Skip to main content


Purported son of Mexican drug lord captured

'El Chapo's

The Mexican navy has declared that the son of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin Guzman, also known as "el Chapo," the country's most-wanted drug lord, is now in captivity. "Following an intelligence operation, Jesus Alfredo Guzman, the presumed son of Joaquin Guzman, was arrested this morning," a written statement said. However - the suspect's identity is now being questioned.

While Mexican navy identified this young man as Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, the son of drug lord, 'el Chapo,' the man's lawyer told Mexican news media that he is Felix Beltran Leon, a car salesman from western Jalisco state who has no relationship to Joaquin Guzman.

While Mexican navy identified this young man as Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, the son of drug lord, 'el Chapo,' the man's lawyer told Mexican news media that he is Felix Beltran Leon, a car salesman from western Jalisco state who has no relationship to Joaquin Guzman.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Mexican navy presented the young man to the media to great fanfare, identifying him as Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar. However, both Mexico and the U.S. officials were left adrift after the man's lawyer told Mexican news media that he is Felix Beltran Leon, a car salesman from western Jalisco state who has no relationship to Guzman.

Attorney Heriberto Rangel Mendez, told The Associated Press he would show proof of the man's identity, but did not immediately offer further comment.

The Mexican Attorney General's Office has since issued a statement saying information identifying him as son of Guzman came from the U.S. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said the information came from Mexico.

"The Mexican Navy and Mexican law enforcement have said this is El Chapo's son and that's what we took," DEA spokesman Rusty Payne said. He says that the DEA is working separately to confirm the man's identity.

An official with the Mexican attorney general's office, speaking on the condition of anonymity said the office is also studying photographs of Guzman and his family. The suspect didn't resemble a photograph of Guzman's son recently issued by the U.S. Treasury Department.

The man arrested is suspected of links to drug trafficking, and was transferred to Mexico City under the watch of a heavy presence from security forces.

Guzman, billionaire head of the dreaded Sinaloa cartel, has a $5 million reward on his head in the United States. The feisty crime boss has long sparred with U.S. and Mexican authorities.

Both he and his wife Alejandrina Salazar were placed on a U.S. list of Sinaloa cartel operatives last year.

The U.S. Treasury Department froze the assets of the fugitive drug lord's sons Ivan and Ovidio last month, effectively barring Americans from doing business with them.

Both sons are reported to have played "a significant role" in drug trafficking activities.

The arrest comes just a little over a week before Mexicans head to the polls to vote for a new president.

President Felipe Calderon's ruling National Action Party has lost much support in the wake of brutal drug violence that has killed more than 50,000 people since December 2006. Calderon's government has been harshly criticized for not doing enough to weaken the Sinaloa cartel.

© 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention:
The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: El Chapo, arrest, identity questioned, drug lords, Mexican navy

NEWSLETTERS »

E-mail:       Zip Code: (ex. 90001)
Today's Headlines

Sign up for a roundup of the day's top stories. 5 days / week. See Sample

Rate This Article

Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

0 Comments

Leave a Comment

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment


Newsletter Sign Up

Daily Readings

Reading 1, Sirach 1:1-10
All wisdom comes from the Lord, she is with him for ever. The ... Read More

Psalm, Psalms 93:1, 1-2, 5
Yahweh is king, robed in majesty, robed is Yahweh and girded ... Read More

Gospel, Mark 9:14-29
As they were rejoining the disciples they saw a large crowd ... Read More

Saint of the Day

May 20 Saint of the Day

St. Bernardine of Siena
May 20: In the year 1400, a young man came to the door of the largest ... Read More