The head of security in Mexico confirmed on Tuesday that 17 relatives of cartel leaders crossed into the U.S. last week as part of an agreement involving the son of a former Sinaloa Cartel leader and the Trump administration.
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security, acknowledged a report from independent journalist Luis Chaparro regarding the relatives of Ovidio Guzmán López, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2023, entering the United States.
Guzmán López is one of the siblings leading a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel following the imprisonment of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in the U.S. A video showed the relatives crossing the border from Tijuana with their luggage to U.S. agents awaiting them.
Rumors circulated last week suggesting that the younger Guzmán might plead guilty to avoid a trial on multiple drug trafficking charges after his extradition.
In a radio interview, García Harfuch confirmed the crossing of the family members and suggested that it was evident they acted after negotiations between Guzmán López and the U.S. government. He noted that the former cartel leader had indicated potential collaborations with U.S. authorities, aimed at identifying members of other criminal organizations, possibly as part of a cooperation agreement.
“It is evident that his family is going to the U.S. due to a negotiation or an offer that the Department of Justice is providing him,” García Harfuch stated. He also mentioned that none of the family members were being pursued by Mexican authorities and noted that the U.S. government under President Trump needed to share information with Mexican prosecutors, which has yet to occur.
García Harfuch’s confirmation coincided with announcements from the U.S. Attorney General’s Office about charging several cartel leaders with “narcoterrorism” for the first time since Trump’s administration designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California, along with other officials, issued warnings to cartel members, specifically naming the Sinaloa Cartel.
“Let me be clear, to the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, you are no longer the hunters; you are now the hunted. You will be betrayed by your friends, harassed by your enemies, and ultimately find yourselves in a courtroom here in the Southern District of California,” Gordon declared.
This situation highlights a continued shift in how cartel operations are being addressed by both Mexican and U.S. authorities, with a focus on accountability and pursuing justice against those involved in narcoterrorism. The growing level of cooperation may potentially pave the way for more effective strategies in combating organized crime across borders.