There has likely been an arrest warrant out since Ovidio was first indicted. The question is why act now? Most likely scenario is that HSI, which is running his case, got actionable intel, probably locational data leveraged from a wire, and asked for Mexican help on the ground.
There is almost certainly an arrest warrant out on Ovidio’s brother and codefendant Joaquin too. The fact that Mex Mil went after Ovidio suggests there was something in the intel stream from US agents that made it possible to go after him. We may/may not ever learn what it was.
HSI and NDDS, the drug prosecutors based in Washington DC, have been very reluctant to discuss this one.
Then again if you worked hard, captured your target then watched the target walk freely out of custody, you might not want to talk about it either.
Remember: HSI worked very closely with NDDS in wiretapping Chapo and his crew during the 2014 and 2016 captures. Difference then was the presence of other US agencies and the choice of SEMAR, the Mexican marines, as the ground force.
And, of course, the Mexican govt’s decision to release the guy after they had him...
Just checked the docket. There indeed have been arrest warrants for Ovidio and Joaquin Jr issued out of DC since at least December 2018.
