According to Mexican security official Rosa Icela Rodriguez, two sons of the infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, known as the “Chapitos,” reportedly made an agreement before one of them was arrested last month. Joaquín Guzmán López, who was apprehended along with Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada after flying from Mexico to Texas, allegedly reached a deal with his brother Ovidio Guzmán López, who is currently in US custody awaiting trial on drug and money laundering charges.
Rodriguez stated that there was an agreement between the incarcerated Ovidio and the free Joaquín for their respective surrender to the United States. However, Ovidio's defense attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, refuted Rodriguez's claim, calling it a fabrication and asserting that Ovidio had no contact with his brother since being in custody.
While Guzmán López has pleaded not guilty to charges of narcotics, money laundering, and firearms offenses, his attorney maintains that no deal was made with US officials. Zambada, on the other hand, denied surrendering or negotiating terms with the US government, labeling his flight to the US as a violent kidnapping.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the alleged agreements, Zambada is set to be transferred from Texas to New York for trial. The 76-year-old faces multiple federal criminal counts, including continuing criminal enterprise and money laundering, with indictments filed in various states.
Although the capture of these cartel leaders may not immediately impact drug trafficking or violence, experts suggest that valuable information could be obtained from them, potentially disrupting Mexican cartels. The decision to prosecute Zambada in New York's Eastern District, known for successfully convicting El Chapo, highlights the significance of this high-profile case.
