CNN
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Several families of Mexican drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman’s family entered the United States as part of a negotiation in a lawsuit against one of his sons.
El Chapo’s son Obigio Guzman Lopez is facing drug trafficking charges in the United States over alleged roles in the Sinaloa Cartel, co-founded by his father. Obigio was extradited to the US in September 2023, months after Mexican authorities arrested him in a massive operation that led to at least 29 deaths.
A few days after his extradition, he pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a US court. However, last week he reached an agreement to change his plea, according to court documents reviewed by CNN. The document did not specify contract details.
“When his family goes to the US, it is clear that it relates to this negotiation or plea bargain opportunity offered by the (US) Department of Justice itself,” Garcia Halfucci told Radio Formula.
Several Mexican media reported Tuesday that 17 relatives of Obigio had crossed the border and passed to the US. CNN is requesting more information from the US Department of Justice, as well as Mexico’s Department of Security and Civil Protection.
García Harfuch added that relatives who left the country were not being asked by Mexican authorities.
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Ovidio is one of El Chapo’s four sons accused of various crimes in the US against alleged roles in the Sinaloa cartel.
The brothers, collectively referred to as “Los Chapitos,” are thought to have been brought to the cartel as teenagers to learn about the inside and outside of the organization, according to Thing Tank Insight Crime. Their role became more prominent around the mid-2010s when their father was captured and handed over to the US.
El Chapo’s other son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, is also in US custody. When he was arrested in July 2024, he flew to the United States on a civilian plane from Mexico with Ismael “Elmayo” Zambada, co-founder of the cartel where his brothers were in conflict.
Joaquin is said to have invited him on flight to investigate the land he thought was in Mexico, organising the arrest of El Mayo and El Mayo. Instead, the plane landed in El Paso, Texas, where federal agents arrested them.
Mexican security secretary Rosa Icela Rodriguez said in August that Joaquin had reached an agreement with his brother Ovidio.
However, Ovidio’s lawyer told CNN that Rodriguez’s claims were “complete and total forgery.” El Mayo’s lawyers said they “did not surrender or negotiate with the US government,” describing the flight to the US as a violent incentive.
El Chapo’s two other sons, Ivan Archived and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, are still all in general. The US accused the cartel of making it a major major drug trafficking operation, and issued a $10 million bounty for information that led to each arrest.
The Mexican military previously arrested and failed Obigio in its 2019 operation. Shortly after being detained in October of that year, the cartel fought Mexican authorities and quickly mobilized dozens of gunmen to try to free him.
Obigio was eventually released on orders of then-President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and halted the violence. He then hid in 2023 until his second arrest and final extradition.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
