Sons of El Chapo negotiate with the US while gang war in Mexico escalates

mexico, united states - The sons of El Chapo are currently imprisoned in the United States and negotiating with American authorities for reduced sentences. At the same time, a violent gang war in Mexico is causing chaos and fear among the residents.

The sons of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, Ovidio Guzmán (34) and Joaquín Jr., are in custody in the US and in negotiations with American authorities for possible leniency in their cases, their American lawyer confirmed.

This revelation came after almost three months of silence regarding this matter, during the first court hearing of Ovidio Guzmán since the arrest of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada on July 25. During the fifteen-minute procedural hearing in a federal court in Chicago, it was determined that Ovidio would appear in court again on January 7, along with his brother Joaquín.

If Ovidio and Joaquín Jr. reach an agreement with the US authorities, it could mean avoiding a trial and being declared not guilty.

El Mayo, arrested in the US on July 25 in El Paso, claimed that he was kidnapped by his godson Joaquín Guzmán López in the Sinaloa capital Culiacán and flown against his will to Texas on that day. He was then arrested by the DEA. Joaquín Jr. was also taken into custody. Rumors immediately circulated that El Chapo's son had struck a deal with the Americans.

Ismael Zambada professed his innocence during his second hearing on September 13 in New York, declaring innocence on the seventeen charges brought against him, including conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and possession of weapons.

The judge, Brian Cogan, asked the prosecutor to consider the possibility of giving El Mayo the death penalty. In 2019, El Chapo was sentenced to life plus thirty years, and just last week, the former Mexican Minister of Public Security, Genaro García Luna, received a 38-year sentence and a two million dollar fine.

Ovidio Guzmán, also known as 'El Ratón', and Joaquín, before their arrests, led the faction of their father known as 'Los Chapitos' in collaboration with their half-brothers Ivan Archivaldo and Jesús-Alfredo. The other major faction of the Sinaloa Cartel is led by Ismaél Zambada.

According to Mexican cartel experts, the alleged betrayal by Joaquín Guzmán, known as 'El Güero’, stemmed from the testimony of El Mayo's son Vicente Zambada Niebla against El Chapo during his 2019 trial. Zambada junior disclosed information about cartel operations which led to the imprisonment of 'Los Chapitos' father. Furthermore, after Ovidio Guzmán's arrest in January 2023, the Chapitos unsuccessfully sought support from La Mayiza, El Mayo's faction.

After weeks of calm, an internal gang war erupted in early September, causing unprecedented violence. In a bloody power struggle within the Sinaloa Cartel between La Chapiza, the faction led by the brothers Jesús and Iván Guzmán, and La Mayiza, the faction led by El Mayo's son 'El Mayito Flaco', at least 192 people have died in Sinaloa within six weeks according to official figures. Additionally, 224 people have been kidnapped and are missing. Criminals have taken advantage of the lack of authority to rob 620 businesses and steal cars.

Despite the deployment of eight hundred military personnel by the Mexican federal government to the troubled state in northwest Mexico, most residents in Culiacán remain indoors with locked doors and closed windows.

'The additional military and police personnel do nothing to protect us. They are just for show,' said Javiera, a 38-year-old resident of Culiacán. 'I have never been this scared. I have been experiencing panic attacks and sleeping problems lately. This is not a sustainable way of living.'

In addition to gunfights and roadblocks, the office of the newspaper El Debate Culiacán was shot at with a machine gun in recent days. The following day, a delivery person for the same newspaper was kidnapped and remains missing. The professional local baseball team, the Tomateros, holds its practices and games without spectators due to fear, and schools have shifted to online classes.

'Last week, my oldest daughter was taught in school what to do in case of a shooting,' Javiera stated. 'I have withdrawn both my daughters from school. We are leaving the city. It is no longer safe to live here.'