Drug lord El Chapo's son pleads guilty in US drug trafficking case

December 1, 2025

Joaquín Guzmán López, one of El Chapo's four sons and a member of the Los Chapitos cartel faction, entered a guilty plea to drug trafficking charges in a United States federal court after prosecutors agreed not to seek capital punishment. The 39-year-old, who along with his siblings assumed cartel leadership following their father's imprisonment, was apprehended in Texas last year when he arrived on a private aircraft with cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, reportedly deceiving Zambada about their destination. His admission of guilt encompasses involvement in trafficking substantial amounts of multiple narcotics including the highly potent synthetic opioid fentanyl into American territory.

Who is affected

Joaquín Guzmán López (defendant who pleaded guilty)
His brother Ovidio Guzmán (previously pleaded guilty)
Their father Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán (serving life sentence)
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada (cartel boss arrested alongside Lopez)
Pedro "Pichon" Inzunza Coronel (drug trafficker killed by Mexican authorities)
The Sinaloa drugs cartel and Los Chapitos cell
People aged 18 to 45 in the US (affected by fentanyl deaths)
The Trump administration
US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is conducting missile strikes on alleged drug traffickers at sea
The Trump administration is moving to designate cartels as terrorist organizations
Mexico and the US are working together against drug traffickers (as referenced in Ambassador Johnson's statement)

Why it matters

This case is significant because it represents a major prosecution against leadership of one of the world's most powerful drug cartels, particularly targeting those responsible for flooding the United States with fentanyl, which has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. The plea deal demonstrates ongoing efforts to dismantle the Sinaloa cartel's leadership structure, which continued operations even after El Chapo's imprisonment. Additionally, the case occurs within a broader context of escalating and controversial US counter-narcotics measures, including military strikes and terrorist designations, which raise questions about appropriate use of force and international law compliance in combating drug trafficking.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC