Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel best known for their infamous ties to Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, are facing an unprecedented decline.
With only two leaders, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán and his brother Jesús Alfredo, remaining at large, the once-powerful cartel is rapidly losing ground.
A series of arrests, deaths, and extraditions have depleted their ranks, with key figures falling victim to law enforcement operations aimed at curbing the fentanyl crisis in the United States.
The latest casualty in this sweeping crackdown is Moisés Barnabé Barraza Acosta, also known as Berna or Chupón, who authorities have identified as the leader of a criminal cell involved in contract killings and drug trafficking.
His arrest, part of a joint security operation in Culiacán, revealed that he was accompanied by three other armed criminals.
Despite their arsenal, which included long guns, bulletproof vests, and tire spikes, the operation underscored the weakening position of Los Chapitos in the drug trade.
Named for their association with El Chapo, Los Chapitos gained prominence following their father’s fall, becoming pivotal players in the fentanyl distribution to U.S. streets.
In 2023, the U.S. State Department placed charges against 28 members of the cartel, with a relentless pursuit for life sentences targeting the Guzmán brothers, reflecting their perceived threat to public safety.
Earlier in the year, a significant arrest was made when Ovidio Guzmán, known as “El Ratón,” was captured in Culiacán, following a chaotic operation that involved violent resistance from his cartel affiliates.
Ovidio, who was previously apprehended in 2019 but released after threats of mass violence, has since been extradited to the U.S. and is cooperating with justice authorities.
In a surprising turn of events, one of Ovidio’s brothers, Joaquín Guzmán López, reportedly kidnapped the long-standing capo Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key figure in the cartel’s history who had evaded capture for years.
This betrayal sparked a violent feud between Guzmán López’s faction and El Mayo’s loyalists, known as La Mayiza, resulting in a dramatic increase in violent incidents in Sinaloa.
Since the beginning of the feud in September, over 1,369 murders have been reported, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s recent assumption of the presidency has led to a sharper approach to cartel violence, particularly focusing on Los Chapitos.
With Omar García-Harfuch spearheading this initiative, the number of high-profile arrests has surged as the administration’s priorities shift towards dismantling the Guzmán faction.
In conjunction with Ovidio’s plea deal, reports indicate that several members of El Chapo’s family have sought refuge in California, raising alarms within Mexico’s security apparatus.
The ongoing demise of Los Chapitos is marked by the consistent targeting of its members; by May, arrests had favored Los Chapitos over other cartel factions, intensifying suspicions about the motivations behind law enforcement’s strategies.
On the same day as Berna’s arrest, officials captured Juan Pablo “El Payo” Bastidas Erenas, a member of the rival Beltrán Leyva cartel, illustrating a broader campaign against cartel activity in Sinaloa.
There have also been significant losses for Los Chapitos, including the death of Jorge Humberto Figueroa, aka El Perris, a close aide to the Guzmán brothers and a key player during their confrontations with law enforcement.
The authorities characterized this as part of a larger strategy to restore order in a region grappling with rampant cartel violence.
The current trajectory for Los Chapitos paints a grim picture; as their leadership becomes increasingly isolated and outmatched, rumors circulate of desperate attempts to forge alliances with rival cartels, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in a bid for survival.
The darker forecasts for the Guzmán faction means that a struggle for power and control will likely continue, even as their resources dwindle.
As of now, Los Chapitos find themselves at a crossroads, contending not only with the might of Mexican security forces but also with the instability that internal betrayals have wrought within the cartel itself.
With their top leaders cornered, Los Chapitos are truly an endangered species in the tumultuous landscape of international drug trafficking.
Each arrest, each tactical maneuver by authorities marks another nail in the coffin of a once-mighty cartel that is currently fighting for its life against overwhelming odds.
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