El Chapo Guzman’s Kidnapped Son Has A Crazy Past

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman is widely known for his drug trafficking and prison breaks. Presently believed to be in his 60s, he started dealing drugs in his 20s, making him one of the most experienced in the trade in recent times. He had also been the head of the Sinaloa cartel before his arrest last year. The arrest is seen to have made things worse for both him and his family. This is not to mention that the organization he headed has now become more vulnerable to attacks from rival groups seeking to capitalize on its seemingly weak leadership.

That said, one of El Chapo’s sons, Jesus Alfredo Guzman, was kidnapped a few weeks ago by men believed to be from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The incident happened at a resort in Puerto Vallarta. The area is believed to be CJNG territory, and according to analysts and Mexican authorities, it was against Alfredo’s better judgement to go into their region without armed guards.

The younger Guzman is believed to be part of the Sinaloa cartel leadership. His profile is said to have made him a valuable asset to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, especially when carrying out negotiations with El Chapo Guzman’s drug trafficking group. All in all, Alfredo Guzman came out looking like a careless leader whose carefree attitude could cost the organization dearly. He was released a week after the kidnapping incident.

Going a bit into his background, Jesus Guzman is alleged to have worked under his father in the Sinaloa cartel, and is believed to have played a key role in its operations. More specifically, he was alleged to be the manager of El Chapo’s assets. This information was revealed after he was arrested in 2012 by Mexican marines with another cartel member, Kevin Daniel Beltran Rios. They were arrested in Zapopan, an area situated in Guadalajara and were caught with a grenade launcher, two pistols and assault rifles, and $135,000 in cash. The following is an excerpt of the report.

“The boyish, heavyset Guzman Salazar, known as ‘El Gordo,’ or ‘Fattie,’ was captured early Thursday during a raid by marines in Zapopan, an upscale suburb of the western city of Guadalajara, thanks to intelligence work and information from U.S. authorities, Navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said at a news conference. Intelligence sources say that Guzman Salazar was coordinating the majority of the drug shipments sent to the United States by the Sinaloa cartel, including cocaine and heroin.”

This is according to Fox News. He was paraded for the media, but was mostly looking down, ignoring questions from journalists, including those related to the whereabouts of his father who was at the time at large. He was later on released. On to his lifestyle, he is said to have lived a playboy lifestyle featuring beautiful women, wads of cash, guns and drugs as illustrated by his social media posts.

He and his brothers Ivan Archivaldo and Ovidio Guzman are believed to be on the U.S. government’s radar due to their drug trafficking activities. The following is an excerpt of a report on this by Fox News.

“Nicknamed ‘Los Chapitos,’ Ivan Archivaldo, Jesus Alfredo and Ovidio have been listed in various documents filed by the U.S. Justice and Treasury departments over the last decade for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering activities.

“According to a report by the Mexican newspaper El Universal, the U.S. authorities are mostly interested in the first two: Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo, Guzman’s children with his first wife Maria Alejandrina Salazar Hernandez.”

Presently, their father, “El Chapo” Guzman is in a prison in Juarez awaiting extradition to the United States.

[Photo by Marco Ugarte/AP Photo]