The Guzmán family, known for their dominance in drug trafficking in Sinaloa, appears to be unraveling under intense scrutiny and legal pressure from U.S. authorities.
The recent crossing of 17 family members into the United States and the anticipated guilty plea of Ovidio Guzmán, also known as “El Ratón,” signify the family’s weakening grip on power.
Ovidio, the youngest son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán—who is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison—is reportedly negotiating a plea deal with U.S. prosecutors that could dramatically alter the landscape of drug trafficking in Mexico.
His decision to plead guilty could open the door for him to disclose critical information about the inner workings of the cartel in exchange for a potentially reduced sentence.
Ovidio faces a dozen charges related to the trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, which means he may be preparing to betray former associates as part of his strategy.
The legal proceedings surrounding his case mark an apparent shift in the family dynamics following his extradition, but the mass exodus of his relatives to the U.S. through the San Ysidro port in Tijuana suggests that negotiations are taking place.
Mexico’s Security Secretary, Omar García Harfuch, has characterized the relocation as a strategic move tied to Ovidio’s legal battles, emphasizing that the family’s departure is a clear indicator of negotiations with authorities.
Federal entities in Mexico clarified that the relatives involved in this move are not currently facing any legal challenges in either country, allowing them to cross the border freely for talks with U.S. officials.
Ovidio Guzmán’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, declared that the family’s relocation is not a component of the plea deal, although sources suggest that some family members are willing to provide information to enter the witness protection program.
Among those crossing into U.S. territory is Griselda López Pérez, Ovidio’s mother, who has a complicated history with the law.
In 2010, she was arrested during a raid in Culiacán but was released after giving her statement.
Two years after her release, the U.S. Treasury Department placed her on a sanctions list for her role in supporting El Chapo’s efforts to evade capture.
Griselda is also the mother of Joaquín Guzmán López, known as “El Güero Moreno,” who became embroiled in a recent scandal that rocked Mexican drug trafficking circles.
In July 2024, El Güero allegedly orchestrated a dramatic kidnapping of his godfather, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a long-time associate of El Chapo, resulting in El Mayo’s arrest by U.S. agents shortly thereafter.
The unfolding events raise questions about Joaquín’s motives, as it is speculated he may have turned over El Mayo to secure a more favorable deal for his brother Ovidio.
Now housed in the same Chicago prison as Ovidio, Joaquín is also negotiating a plea agreement through his attorney.
Currently, he has pleaded not guilty to five federal drug trafficking charges but has been assured he will not face the death penalty.
As for the remaining fugitive sons of El Chapo, Jesús Alfredo and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar are still actively leading the cartel and are wanted for capture with a $10 million bounty on each of their heads.
They are reportedly caught in a violent battle against rivals loyal to El Mayo in Sinaloa, further contributing to the increasing chaos and bloodshed within the region.
Iván Archivaldo, identified as the top leader of the Los Chapitos faction, has recently evaded capture even as U.S. authorities intensify their efforts to apprehend him.
After nearly being caught in a military operation in February, Iván managed to escape through a hidden tunnel—an old strategy honed by his father.
Around the same period, Mexican authorities arrested two high-ranking members of his cartel, demonstrating the increasing pressure that the Guzmán family faces.
Jesús Alfredo Guzmán López, dubbed “Alfredillo,” is also listed among the DEA’s most-wanted individuals and serves as a lieutenant for Iván, accused of torturing rivals for information about their operations.
As internal conflicts escalate and rival factions clash weekly, the implications of Ovidio and Joaquín’s testimonies from prison could fundamentally alter the dynamics of organized crime in Mexico.
The ongoing turmoil poses the potential for revelations that may expose the deep-rooted connections between criminal entities and various sectors of Mexico’s political, business, and military landscapes.
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