United States authorities have intensified their pursuit of the two fugitive sons of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, escalating efforts with a $10 million reward offered for information on each.
Achrivaldo Ivan Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, alleged leaders of a faction within the Sinaloa Cartel, are now the subjects of heightened international attention as Washington seeks to curb the growing fentanyl crisis linked to the group, Daily Mail reported.
Authorities have identified the brothers as leaders of the "Los Chapitos" faction, which they consider a major force within the Sinaloa Cartel. Investigators suspect both brothers of orchestrating large-scale fentanyl operations from their base in Mexico.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of each Guzman brother. Law enforcement officials believe the pair remains in Mexico.
In addition to offering the reward, U.S. authorities have imposed sanctions on the brothers and a broader network of associates. Officials accuse these individuals—primarily based in Mazatlán, Mexico—of engaging in drug trafficking, extortion, and money laundering to support cartel operations.
“Los Chapitos” is viewed by U.S. officials as a major contributor to the fentanyl epidemic affecting communities across the United States. The synthetic opioid has become one of the deadliest drugs in the country due to its potency and widespread availability.
“Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyperviolent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel at the forefront of fentanyl trafficking into the United States,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a recent statement addressing the crisis. He added that authorities are using all available tools to save lives by combating the fentanyl threat at its source.
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the father of the two wanted men, was apprehended in the resort city of Mazatlan in 2014. Following his conviction in 2019 for trafficking massive quantities of cocaine and other narcotics over ve25 years, he is serving a life sentence in a high-security U.S. prison in Colorado.
In addition to Achrivaldo and Jesus Alfredo, El Chapo has two other sons, Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, who have also come under U.S. judicial scrutiny.
Authorities arrested Joaquin Guzman Lopez in July after he reportedly arrived in the U.S. via private jet. Prosecutors have charged him with eight federal offenses, including money laundering and drug distribution. Although he claims cartel rivalries forced him to act under duress, he has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Around the same time, authorities also took Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada— a longtime Sinaloa figure and former partner of El Chapo—into custody. Zambada alleges that Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly brought him to the U.S., and he has likewise pleaded not guilty in federal court to multiple narcotics-related charges.
Mexican authorities arrested Ovidio Guzman Lopez in the city of Culiacan in 2019. After the U.S. extradited him in 2023, he initially pleaded not guilty to charges of fentanyl trafficking.
However, in a recent development announced last month, Ovidio is expected to change his plea to guilty at a scheduled hearing in Chicago on July 9. Prosecutors have charged him with additional offenses related to drug crimes, money laundering, and weapons violations.
Separately, the Guzman family drew further attention in May when El Chapo’s ex-wife and 16 other relatives crossed into the United States. Surveillance footage showed the group approaching border agents in Tijuana with luggage in tow, sparking speculation about their intentions and legal status.
The intensifying crackdown represents a broader strategy by U.S. officials to address the fentanyl crisis by targeting top cartel leadership. The Treasury's coordinated sanctions and rewards mark a rare assertive tactic focused specifically on individual figures.
Officials believe that disrupting the command structure of "Los Chapitos" could weaken the cartel’s grip on fentanyl production and supply chains, which have grown more sophisticated in recent years.
While the whereabouts of Achrivaldo Ivan and Jesus Alfredo remain unknown, the high-profile nature of the case and the massive reward may foreshadow further developments in the coming weeks as pressure increases on both U.S. and Mexican intelligence efforts.
