Ovidio Guzmán López, one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s four sons, currently finds himself in the midst of a tumultuous legal saga. This infamous drug lord’s legacy weighs heavily on his son’s present-day plight. He has been indicted on drug trafficking charges in the United States. These charges stem from his purported leadership role in the Sinaloa Cartel, a criminal enterprise known for its large-scale drug trafficking. Ovidio Guzmán López was arrested for the first time in October 2019. He was soon released after then-President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stepped in to quell violent turf wars between the cartel and Mexican security forces.
The situation escalated rapidly. Following Ovidio Guzmán López’s initial arrest, the Sinaloa Cartel mobilized a substantial number of armed men to confront law enforcement, attempting to secure his release. The ferocity of the violent response made it clear just how much political power the cartel had gained by this point.
During one such operation in September 2023, Mexican police and military forces killed at least 29 people in the town of Nuevo Laredo. During this operation, they apprehended one of the most wanted drug lords—Ovidio Guzmán López—and swiftly extradited him to the United States. This was a key moment in his legal crusade. As it happens, he is charged now with serious offenses that could bring severe punishments if found guilty.
Ovidio Guzmán López is a member of the equally infamous faction dubbed “Los Chapitos.” His siblings, Joaquín Guzmán López, Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, and Jesus Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, are part of this well-known organized crime group. With Joaquín Guzmán López now in US custody, his fate is at the US’s discretion. He has been linked to planning the orchestration of his own arrest and the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, another major cartel player.
Just recently, 17 family members of Ovidio Guzmán López made their way across the border into the United States. None of these family members are fugitives from Mexican authorities, and it is troubling to consider why any would risk entering the US given the potential consequences. Omar García Harfuch, the former head of Mexico City’s police, made an interesting argument. He implied that their coming should be linked to negotiations or plea deal opportunities brokered by the US Department of Justice.
“It’s clear that with his family going to the United States, it’s connected to this negotiation or plea deal opportunity provided by the (US) Department of Justice itself.” – Omar García Harfuch
Ovidio Guzmán López’s attorney was quick to dismiss the allegations. Those comments came from Rosa Icela Rodriguez, Mexico’s Secretary of Security. The town attorney vehemently denied her allegations, calling them “a total and completely made up thing.” She asserted that no negotiations ever occurred on behalf of her client.
Moreover, an attorney for Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada stated that his client “neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the US government.” This enigmatic comment only muddies the waters on the developing story of possible agreements with senior cartel members.
The Guzmán family’s long ties to the Sinaloa Cartel have affected them since childhood. Now, in their teens, Ovidio Guzmán López and his brothers were initiated into the cartel, gaining a firsthand view of its operations. With such a legacy comes intense pressure, especially given the history of their father’s criminal legacy and continued cartel operations.
As legal proceedings continue, Ovidio Guzmán López’s future is by no means clear. As you can imagine, the grave allegations against him have far-reaching consequences for his life. They affect the broader contexts related to drug trafficking and cartel violence in Mexico and the United States.
