DEA Source reportedly confirms Ovidio Guzmán, El Chapo’s son, entered U.S. Witness Protection Program.
According to Mexican media he was released from jail when El Mayo Zambada was captured.
El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzmán, is in custody of US Marshals Ovidio was arrested and released in Mexico last year
Ovidio Guzmán, a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman, has entered the witness protection program in the US, daily El Universal reported on Friday, August 30th, citing a DEA source.
The young Guzmán, once the leader of the Sinaloa cartel, is in custody of the US Marshals and his case is now classified, according to the report
A source from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reportedly informed Mexican newspaper El Universal that Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has entered the U.S. Witness Protection Program under the custody of the U.S. Marshals. The source added that Guzmán will not be presented publicly as his case is classified.
Guzmán López, known as “El Ratón,” is no longer listed under the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) custody. His BOP record indicates that he was “released” on July 23. This development has led the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) in Mexico to suggest a possible connection between the kidnapping of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and the alleged release of Ovidio Guzmán.
The day following the detention of ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, the Mexican Department of Security reported that the U.S. Embassy clarified Ovidio Guzmán’s status. According to the embassy, Guzmán was not released but had a change in his custody conditions
The FGR stated that Ovidio Guzmán was released on July 23, while Zambada’s arrest occurred on July 25 upon his arrival at a Texas airport. This information aligns with the BOP’s data, referring to ‘El Chapo’s son by his prisoner number, 72884-748.
Who is Ovidio Guzmán, and why is he important?
Ovidio Guzmán López, son of the notorious drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, is a significant player within the Sinaloa Cartel. His faction, known as ‘Los Chapitos,’ has been involved in a power struggle with other groups vying for cartel control. His apparent entry into the Witness Protection Program could signify a significant shift in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
‘El Mayo’ Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel and long considered one of the most elusive drug lords, was arrested near El Paso, Texas, in July 2023. According to reports, his capture was linked to undercover operations involving Ovidio Guzmán, and his brother Joaquín Guzmán López, who was captured with him.
Zambada had managed to avoid capture for decades and played a crucial role alongside ‘El Chapo’ in the cartel’s operations.
Source: El Universal
