Who is Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, El Chapo Guzman's Son

Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar (born 15 August 1983) is a Mexican drug lord and fugitive who is a prime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Popularly known as "El Chapito", Guzmán is one of the most wanted criminals in the world. Ivan consolidated his power in the drug world in the early 2020s along with his brothers. At the time, his faction, Los Chapitos was able to almost monopolize the smuggling of synthetic opioids into the US. Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa Ivan was raised while watching his father Joaquin El Chapo Guzman grow his criminal empire.

As such, Guzmán was educated in the mechanics of the drugs trade from a young age. When he came of age, he began engaging in cartel operations, learning logistics and enforcement, as well as participating in money laundering activities. In the late 2000s, he began to assume a more prominent role within the Sinaloa Cartel, often directing cartel enforcers and managing smuggling corridors for his father. Following his father's final arrest in 2016, Guzmán and his brothers consolidated the Los Chapitos faction which advanced the cartel’s business model by adding fentanyl smuggling. He and his brothers achieved this by establishing new, direct supply chains for precursor chemicals from other countries.

According to DEA reports, the chemical precursor suppliers were typically based in Asia. Corrupt port officials in Mexico reportedly helped to facilitate the entry of the chemicals into the country. Guzman and his syndicate allegedly hire large numbers of hitmen, locally known as sicarios, to carry out brutal attacks against rival cartels and security forces.

Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar s involvement in the Fentanyl Trade

Guzmán's aggressive expansion into the synthetic drug market in the 2020s is said to have created an exponential supply of illicit fentanyl into the US. It was estimated that Los Chapitos sold millions of counterfeit pills laced with the deadly opioid in the United States. While, he quickly became one of the most powerful and violent traffickers in the world, he constantly battled rival organizations like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and factions within the Sinaloa Cartel. Sometimes, the violence spilled over, leading to the murders of police officers, journalists, and civilians. In 2019, Guzmán led an armed offensive against Mexican military units in response to the capture of his brother, Ovidio Guzmán López. His men put up armed blockades to force the military to give up his brother. The attack compelled the military to capitulate and release his brother from custody. In 2023, the United States Department of Justice unsealed sweeping indictments against him and his brothers. He was designated a primary target but struck no deal of surrender with Mexican authorities. In 2023, his brother, Ovidio, was arrested and taken into federal custody when Mexican authorities launched a massive manhunt in Culiacan for Iván and the remaining brothers. As a result, the Los Chapitos faction tightened its internal security protocols.

A Wanted Fugitive

In 2024, Guzmán was confirmed to be a top fugitive by the DEA, a day after the US announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. Today, Guzmán’s legacy remains one of terror and violence. The US authorities deem him a threat as he supplies the deadly fentanyl that has led to tens of thousands of deaths in the US, mainly resulting from overdoses. His alleged malevolent actions, including feeding rivals to his pet tigers, were detailed in US indictments. On the other hand, his past public displays of wealth, including exotic cars, private jets, and gold-plated weapons have transformed him into a symbol of modern narco-culture. His life has also served as inspiration for narcocorridos, investigative news reports, and been covered in government intelligence reports.