Over a Dozen Relatives of ‘El Chapo’, Including Ex-Wife, Surrender to U.S. Border Authorities, Reportedly in Exchange for Plea Deal

Over a dozen relatives of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, including his former wife Griselda López Pérez, crossed into the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry under the coordination of federal agents, according to journalist Luis Chaparro.

The group, comprised of 18 people, included children and grandchildren of the former Sinaloa Cartel leader. A video that quickly went viral and was shared by Chaparro himself shows the family walking across the border, where agents were waiting on the U.S. side.

According to Baja News, the entry was arranged in connection with a potential plea deal involving Ovidio Guzmán, one of El Chapo’s sons, currently in U.S. custody. Ovidio is expected to plead guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges during a court hearing in Chicago on July 9. His brother, Joaquín Guzmán López, is reportedly engaged in similar negotiations. The link between the entry and the plea was also confirmed by Chaparro in a post on X:

Griselda López, also known as Karla Pérez Rojo, was El Chapo’s second wife and is the mother of four of his children, including Ovidio. Though she has been investigated for her alleged involvement in cartel operations, she has never faced formal charges. The U.S. Treasury has previously sanctioned her for helping facilitate drug trafficking and for aiding El Chapo in evading arrest.

The news comes amid broader shifts within the Sinaloa Cartel’s power structure. In 2024, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the cartel’s co-founder, was arrested and charged with 17 federal crimes. Reports from journalists Chaparro and David Saucedo indicate that both El Chapo and his sons have provided U.S. authorities with information implicating Zambada and other cartel leaders.

According to Saucedo, this wave of cooperation marks a “series of calculated mutual betrayals,” with imprisoned cartel figures seeking leniency in exchange for intelligence.

President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the case during her Tuesday press conference but stated that Mexico’s Attorney General had not yet been formally notified. She emphasized that any actions involving extradited individuals must involve bilateral coordination between the U.S. and Mexico.