Son of El Chapo Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Father’s Former Cartel Partner

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Alan Feuer and Robert ChiaritoDecember 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM

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Joaquín Guzmán López, son of El Chapo, pleaded guilty in a Chicago federal court on Monday to multiple charges, including the kidnapping of Ismael Zambada García, a former partner of his father in the Sinaloa cartel. Guzmán López admitted to luring Zambada García from hiding in Mexico and arranging for his abduction and transport to U.S. custody at an airport near El Paso. Zambada García helped El Chapo establish the Sinaloa cartel. The guilty plea represents a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel, which is already facing pressure from the Mexican government and rival organizations. The plea coincides with contradictory actions from the Trump administration regarding the war on drugs, including increased pressure on Venezuela and the pardon of a former Honduran president convicted of taking bribes from El Chapo.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

United States ×360% Sinaloa drug cartel ×270% El Chapo ×280% Ismael Zambada García ×4100% Joaquín Guzmán López ×3100%

Keywords

drug cartel 90% kidnapping 80% ismael zambada garcía 70% sinaloa cartel 70% el chapo 70% joaquín guzmán lópez 70% guilty plea 60% organized crime 50% drug trafficking 50% united states 40%