With the goal of combating transnational organized crime, the U.S. State Department is offering up to $5 million for the children of Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Such a reward is for those who provide information leading to the capture or conviction of Ovidio Guzmán López, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Joaquín Guzmán López, who are known as “Chapitos”.
The figure is up to $5 million each, under the State Department’s Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP).
“All four are high-ranking members. of the Sinaloa Cartel and each is subject to federal charges for his involvement in the illicit drug trade,” the department said in a statement.
In addition, Ovid, Ivan and Jesus were also appointed Wednesday by the Treasury Department under the new Executive Orders signed by President Joe Biden.
“For years, the United States has been in the grip of the worst drug epidemic in its entire history,” the Department wrote, “transnational criminal organizations are primarily responsible for bringing these drugs and the violence that belongs to our communities.”
That is why to face this “threat” President Joe Biden signed two new Executive Orders, with which he declared the fight against this epidemic as a national emergency and formally established the Council on Transnational Organized Crime (USCTOC, for its acronym in English).
More on this: US court gives 3 years in prison to Emma Coronel, wife of ‘El Chapo’
This Council will be dedicated to increasing the resources of the State Department and five other key departments and agencies to combat transnational organized crime more effectively.
In early November, the United States indicted Aureliano Guzmán Loera, brother of ‘El Chapo’, and the Salgueiro Nevárez brothers – all of them from the Sinaloa Cartel – for violating drug laws and offering up to five million dollars for information leading to their capture.
Aureliano and brothers Ruperto Salgueiro Nevárez, José Salgueiro Nevárez and Heriberto Salgueiro Nevárez are accused of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Among the main leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel are Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence in the United States, Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, who is on the run, and Guzman’s children (Joaquín, Ovidio, Iván and Jesús Alfredo).
According to Insight Crime, the cartel operates in 17 Mexican states and at least 50 countries. Its main rival is the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
What we do at Animal Político requires professional journalists, teamwork, dialogue with readers and something very important: independence. You can help us keep going. Be part of the team.
Subscribe to Animal Político, receive benefits and support free journalism.#YoSoyAnimal
