 Guzmán was released after approximately 700 cartel enforcers, armed with 50 caliber rifles, RPGs and 40 mm grenades took multiple hostages, including the housing unit where military families live in Culiacan.The cartels used burning vehicles to block roads, a tactic taken from militant protesters, with the event described as a mass insurrection.AMLO defended the decision to release Ovidio Guzmán, arguing it prevented further loss of life, and insisted that he wants to avoid more massacres.