Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar is the son of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman and leads Los Chapitos, one of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking organisations
Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar is the leader of Los Chapitos(Image: Handout)
Two sons of infamous Sinaloa Cartel kingpin Joaquin ‘El Chapo‘ Guzman are reportedly in discussions with US authorities over their potential surrender.
Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar is the leader of Los Chapitos, one of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking organisations and one of two Sinaloa Cartel factions that emerged following his father’s final arrest in 2016. US authorities have offered a $10million reward for his capture.
Ivan, along with brother Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, remain at large. Ovidio Guzman Lopez and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the two other sons of El Chapo who went into the family business, have been arrested in recent years and remain in custody in the US.
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According to the LA Times, sources suggest Ivan and his younger brother have been discussing the possibility of a negotiated surrender with US authorities. The discussions are said to have been ongoing for a year, with the two fugitive brothers potentially waiting to see how their half-siblings’ cases play out in US courts before making a final decision.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested alongside Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo, in July 2024. He pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges before US authorities in December, and it emerged in court that he was responsible for kidnapping El Mayo before he was handed over to the US. Both he and brother Ovidio have been cooperating with authorities.
If Ivan is to face justice in the US, it remains to be seen whether he will face charges over El Mayo’s kidnapping. The LA Times also cited sources as saying the plane that carried El Mayo to the US belonged to Ivan.
According to the US Department of State, Ivan and Jesus “share leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel and its fentanyl trafficking operations”.
This includes “coordination of fentanyl trafficking into the U.S.; shipping fentanyl precursor chemicals from China to Mexico; and collecting drug proceeds for Sinaloa Cartel members and associates”.
The department claims Ivan is “responsible for coordinating the trafficking of other controlled substances on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana”.
