Who is Iván Archivaldo, the “most powerful” son of Chapo Guzmán who was captured and let go

The capture of the drug dealer Ovid Guzman “El Ratón”, son of Joaquín “Chapo” Guzmán Loera, on behalf of the Mexican Armed Forces outside of culiacanin the state of Sinaloa, was recognized by the U.S. government as a significant step of the president’s administration Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to combat the methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking.

However, specialists in organized crime issues They do not consider it a lethal blow to the Sinaloa Carteldespite how decimated it has been since the fall and extradition of El Chapo to the US.

And it is that of the 18 children known to the capo, Ovidio is not even close to the leader of the fraction of “The Chapitos”. According to journalist Óscar Balderas, the “most powerful” is his half brother Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar41 years old, eldest son of his father’s first wife, Alejandrina Salazar.

Even, The New York Times reported that during the failed operation on October 17, 2019, known as “The Culiacanazo”when the Mexican Army arrested the “Mouse” for the first time, it was Iván Archivaldo who ordered the cartel to unleash great violence in the capital of the state, which aroused fear among the population and prompted the military to release, at the request of AMLO, to Ovidio. One of the most shameful and criticized days of the government of the so-called “Fourth Transformation” (4T).

It is worth mentioning that “El Chapito” he was arrested in February 2005 by elements of the Municipal Police of zapopanJalisco, when he and two other subjects tried to escape when they saw a patrol car.

At that time, he was in the crosshairs of the US Department of Justice agency (DEA, for its acronym in English) for drug trafficking and allegedly launder money of the Sinaloa Cartel, although he was not formally charged.

He was admitted to the Federal Center for Social Readaptation Number 1 “The Highlands”in the State of Mexico, where he underwent psychological tests to determine its level of danger.

One of them, quoted by the portal Neverthelessrevealed that “El Chapito” is “developmentally immature and insecure”. In addition, “he perceives the protective and powerful father figure, as a concept, but distant and absent in the psycho-affective relationship.”

And concluded: “Due to his personality characteristics, he is vulnerable due to his tendency to join para and antisocial groups.”

However, the maximum security prison it was only his home for three years. In 2008, Guzmán Salazar was released after the magistrate Jose Guadalupe Luna Altamirano exonerated him of said crimes, for “Lack of evidence”.

After just over 14 years, this judge finds himself suspended and charged with illicit enrichment.

Since then, Iván Archivaldo, along with his brother jesus alfredobegan to have greater importance within the criminal organization.

In 2013, the US government formalized an indictment against him for import methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana, as well as for the conspiracy to launder money.” Today, the DEA offers a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.

In addition, “El Chapito” appears next to that of Ismael Zambada Garcia “El Mayo”and that of his two sons: Ismael Zambada Imperial “Mayito Gordo”, and Ismael Zambada Sicarios “Mayito Flaco”, as US priority targets.

For Óscar Balderas, although “El Chapito” and Jesús Alfredo intend to retain command of the Sinaloa Cartel, the family faces a rebellion in their territory.

“They practically have no territories won outside of Culiacán. In recent years they have lost ground against Mayo Zambada and his people, ‘Flechas MZ’he assured.

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