Mexican authorities have responded with a state of alert. Violence is on the increase in Sinaloa, largely because of increasing infighting within the Sinaloa cartel. As the recent escape of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the notorious former Sinaloan drug kingpin, has shown, his legacy is anything but simple. His sons, Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, now find themselves in the sights of US authorities for heading large-scale drug trafficking operations for their cartel, Los Chapitos.
They also have $10 million bounties each on Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo Guzmán Salazar. This financial reward serves to underscore the targeted urgency American authorities are placing on these players in the global drug trade. They are committed to moving quickly to stop these practices.
It was because last year, U.S. authorities arrested Joaquín Guzmán López in El Paso, Texas. He is the third son of El Chapo to be imprisoned, with Ivan and Jesus already in custody. Upon extradition, he pleaded not guilty to a total of 16 charges in a U.S. courtroom. Guzmán López’s arrest alongside Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who remains the Sinaloa cartel’s presumed co-founder, has created a power vacuum. Due to this, violence in the region has increased tremendously.
Feliciano Castro Meléndez, a local official, noted, “This is part of the violence and insecurity that Sinaloa is experiencing,” highlighting the broader implications of these arrests on local communities. The war gets worse with factional splits inside the cartel. On one extreme, Los Chapitos are considered one of the Zambada faction’s leaders. La Mayiza is located on the other side of the rivalry within the cartel leadership.
In a potentially game-changing move, one of El Chapo’s sons, Ovidio Guzmán López, was extradited to the U.S. in September 2023. Now, Lester is under indictment on multiple serious drug trafficking charges. His legal representation described allegations against him as “a complete and utter fabrication,” suggesting a strong defense strategy as he navigates the complexities of U.S. law.
Members of the family of El Chapo allegedly crossed into the U.S. on May 25, 2025. This shift came amid negotiations or plea deals orchestrated by the U.S. Department of Justice as the story played out. Rosa Icela Rodriguez commented on these developments, stating that the purpose was “so that they would go to the United States to surrender.” That shows a concerted legacy-asset-recovery effort to deal with the Guzmán family’s criminal legacy.
Meanwhile, Zambada’s attorney asserted that his client “neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government,” indicating that tensions remain high within the cartel and its affiliates.
