Ovidio Guzmán, one of the sons of the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has been extradited to the United States on drug trafficking charges, as confirmed by the US Attorney General. Ovidio is suspected of playing a significant role in leading the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, an organization founded by his father. Additionally, he stands accused of ordering the murder of a singer who had declined to perform at his wedding. Ovidio had been in custody since his arrest in January in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa.
The extradition of Ovidio Guzmán is viewed as a crucial step in the US Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat all aspects of the cartel’s operations. US Attorney General Merrick Garland acknowledged the courage displayed by law enforcement personnel from both the United States and Mexico in the fight against drug cartels, noting that many have made the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of justice. He also expressed gratitude to the Mexican government for its cooperation in facilitating Ovidio’s extradition.
It’s important to note that there has been no immediate reaction from Mexican authorities regarding Ovidio Guzmán’s extradition. This development follows the recent release of Emma Coronel, the wife of Ovidio’s father, who had been serving a sentence in the United States on drug trafficking charges. Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán himself is serving a life sentence at a supermax prison in Colorado for his role as the leader of the Sinaloa cartel.
Ovidio Guzmán is one of four children fathered by “El Chapo” during his relationship with Griselda López in the 1980s and 90s. Tragically, the eldest of these children, Edgar, lost his life in a cartel shootout in 2008. “El Chapo” also has children from his previous marriage and from his subsequent relationship with Emma Coronel.
Ovidio Guzmán’s arrest took place outside the city of Culiacán following a six-month surveillance operation. The ensuing firefight resulted in the loss of 29 lives, and members of his cartel resorted to burning vehicles to block access roads, preventing police reinforcements from reaching the city. To ensure his safety, Ovidio was airlifted to Mexico City in a helicopter, as there were concerns that his hitmen might attempt to attack the convoy if he were transported by road.
Notably, Ovidio had been briefly detained by security forces in June 2020, but Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered his release to avoid endangering the population. During this episode, Sinaloa gunmen engaged in violent clashes with law enforcement.
The Sinaloa cartel is a transnational criminal organization that US law enforcement officials estimate to have smuggled over 1,000 tonnes of illicit substances, including cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, and heroin, into the United States. The cartel’s operations have involved kidnappings, torture, and killings of rival gang members to consolidate power. Additionally, members have been known to bribe police officers and high-ranking politicians in Mexico and Central America to facilitate their drug shipments or receive advance warning of impending law enforcement actions.
