Photo Credit: Reuters/BBC
By Aaron Humes: Joaquín Guzmán López, one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, has pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court. The plea, made on Monday, the BBC reports, marks a pivotal moment for the high-profile case, as federal prosecutors previously assured Guzmán López that the death penalty would not be pursued.
At 39 years old, Guzmán López is a prominent member of Los Chapitos, a faction comprised of El Chapo’s children, including his brother Ovidio, who had entered a guilty plea in July on similar charges that involve drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering. The Guzmán brothers have risen to leadership positions within the Sinaloa Cartel following their father’s incarceration, as he currently serves a life sentence in a Colorado prison.
Guzmán López was apprehended last year in Texas after he and cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada landed a private plane. Authorities reported that Guzmán López deceived Zambada into boarding the plane under the guise of inspecting potential properties for clandestine drug operations.
As part of his plea deal, Guzmán López acknowledged his role in coordinating the production and smuggling of significant amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and fentanyl into the United States, where fentanyl overdose has emerged as a leading cause of death for individuals aged 18 to 45.
This plea comes amidst ongoing pressure on the Trump administration from Congress regarding its military strikes against drug trafficking operations at sea. The administration has proposed designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations, asserting that such actions are necessary to mitigate drug-related fatalities in the U.S. Critics, however, have decried these strikes as extrajudicial killings, raising concerns about potential violations of international law.
In related news, Mexican authorities reported on Sunday the death of a notorious fentanyl trafficker linked to several violent crimes. Pedro “Pichon” Inzunza Coronel was known for his involvement in multiple acts of violence, including murders and kidnappings. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two nations in combating threats to public safety.
The post International News: Son of ‘El Chapo’ pleads guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. court appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Photo Credit: Reuters/BBC By Aaron Humes: Joaquín Guzmán López, one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, has pleaded guilty to multiple drug trafficking charges in a U.S. court. The plea, made on Monday, the BBC reports, marks a pivotal moment for the high-profile case, as federal prosecutors previously assured Guzmán López that the death penalty
The post International News: Son of ‘El Chapo’ pleads guilty to drug trafficking charges in U.S. court appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
