This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/22/mexican-marines-drug-kingpin-son

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mexican marines capture man believed to be drug kingpin's son Mexican marines capture man believed to be drug kingpin's son
(40 minutes later)
Mexican marines have detained a man they believe is one of the sons of Mexico's most-wanted drug kingpin, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel. Mexican marines have detained a man they believe is one of the sons of Mexico's most-wanted drug kingpin, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel.
The presumed son, identified by the navy as Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 26, was allegedly taking on an increasing leadership role in Mexico's most powerful drug cartel and purportedly served as the administrator of his father's fortune, estimated by Forbes magazine at about $1bn. The presumed son, identified by the navy as Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 26, was allegedly taking on an increasing leadership role in Mexico's most powerful drug cartel and purportedly served as the administrator of his father's fortune, estimated by Forbes magazine at about $1bn (£640m).
The boyish, heavy-set Guzman Salazar, known as "El Gordo" or "Fattie", was captured early on Thursday during a raid by marines in Zapopan, an upmarket suburb of the western city of Guadalajara, thanks to intelligence work and information from US authorities, the navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said at a news conference. Guzman Salazar, known as El Gordo or the Fat One, was captured early on Thursday during a raid in Zapopan, an upmarket suburb of the western city of Guadalajara, thanks to intelligence work and information from US authorities, navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said at a news conference.
Also captured in the raid was an alleged 19-year-old Sinaloa cartel member, Kevin Daniel Beltran Ríos. The pair were caught with a grenade launcher and four grenades, two assault rifles, two pistols and $135,000 in cash.Also captured in the raid was an alleged 19-year-old Sinaloa cartel member, Kevin Daniel Beltran Ríos. The pair were caught with a grenade launcher and four grenades, two assault rifles, two pistols and $135,000 in cash.
Vergara said Guzman Salazar was "a key element" in the Sinaloa cartel, "not just because of his blood tie to the leader … but because he was presumably in charge of managing his assets". Vergara said Guzman Salazar was a key element in the Sinaloa cartel, "not just because of his blood tie to the leader … but because he was presumably in charge of managing his assets".
"Intelligence sources say that Guzman Salazar was co-ordinating the majority of the drug shipments sent to the United States by the Sinaloa cartel, including cocaine and heroin," Vergara said, adding that "several sources also say Guzman Salazar was taking increasing control of Sinaloa cartel operations". "Intelligence sources say that Guzman Salazar was co-ordinating the majority of the drug shipments sent to the United States by the Sinaloa cartel, including cocaine and heroin," Vergara said, adding that some sources also said he was taking increasing control of the cartel's operations.
When he was paraded before news media, the paunchy Guzman Salazar mostly kept his eyes down or closed. Dressed in a red polo shirt and jeans, he did not answer when asked where his father was. When he was paraded before the media, Guzman Salazar mostly kept his eyes down or closed. Dressed in a red polo shirt and jeans, he did not answer when asked where his father was.
Vergara said the capture was due to months of navy intelligence work and information from US authorities. He said Guzman Salazar was wanted in the United States on an outstanding extradition request, to face charges in Chicago related to drug trafficking. Vergara said the capture was due to months of intelligence work and information from US authorities. He said Guzman Salazar was wanted in the United States on an outstanding extradition request, to face charges in Chicago related to drug trafficking.
Guzman Salazar and his father were indicted on multiple drug trafficking charges in the US district court for the northern district of Illinois in August 2009, the US treasury department said earlier this month, when it announced it had placed financial sanctions on Guzman Salazar and his mother, Maria Alejandrina Salazar Hernandez. Guzman Salazar and his father were indicted on multiple drug trafficking charges in the US district court for the northern district of Illinois in August 2009. The treasury department said announced earlier this month that it had placed financial sanctions on Guzman Salazar and his mother, Maria Alejandrina Salazar Hernandez.
The designation bars American citizens from doing business with them and allows authorities to freeze their assets in the US. The designation bars US citizens from doing business with them and allows authorities to freeze their assets.
US authorities have said they believe "El Chapo" Guzman has at least six children with three women, including a woman whom he married in 2007 and who last year gave birth to twin girls in California. The treasury department described Salazar Hernandez, 53, as a wife of Guzman, without providing details. US authorities have said they believe El Chapo has at least six children with three women, including one whom he married in 2007 and who gave birth to twin girls in California last year.
A senior US law enforcement official in Mexico, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said US officials believed the younger Guzman "oversaw many of the drug transportation and money laundering operations … [and] operated from Jalisco, Colima and Sinaloa" states. A senior US law enforcement official in Mexico, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said US officials believed Guzman Salazar "oversaw many of the drug transportation and money laundering operations … [and] operated from Jalisco, Colima and Sinaloa" states.
In May, the department announced similar sanctions against Guzman's sons Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 22.In May, the department announced similar sanctions against Guzman's sons Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 22.
Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, also known as "El Chapito", was also detained in Zapopan, in Jalisco state, on money laundering charges in Mexico in 2005, but was later released. Guzman Lopez plays a significant role in his father's drug trafficking activities, the department said. Ivan Archivaldo, also known as El Chapito, was detained in Zapopan on money laundering charges in 2005, but was later released. Guzman Lopez plays a significant role in his father's drug trafficking activities, the department said.
Another son, Edgar Guzman Lopez, was killed in 2008 in a gun battle in the parking lot of a shopping centre in the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan. Authorities recovered more than 500 bullet casings from AK-47 rifles from the site where the capo's son lay dead in a pool of blood. Another son, Edgar Guzman Lopez, was killed in 2008 in a gun battle in a shopping centre car park in the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan. Authorities recovered more than 500 bullet casings from AK-47 rifles from the site of the killing.
"El Chapo" Guzman was put on the treasury department's list in 2001, the year he escaped from a maximum security prison hidden in a laundry truck. He has evaded authorities ever since, moving from hideout to hideout as he directs the operations of his cartel and a fight against rivals that has left thousands of people dead across Mexico. El Chapo was put on the treasury department's list in 2001, the year he escaped from a maximum security prison hidden in a laundry lorry. He has evaded authorities ever since, moving from hideout to hideout as he directs the operations of his cartel and a fight against rivals that has left thousands of people dead across Mexico.
The western state of Jalisco – where Guzman Salazar was arrested – as well as the nearby states of Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa have seen a spike in drug-related killings in the past few years as the Sinaloa drug cartel battles its former allies in the Beltran Leyva cartel and its arch rival the Zetas drug gang. The western state of Jalisco – where Guzman Salazar was arrested – as well as the nearby states of Colima, Nayarit and Sinaloa have seen a sharp increase in drug-related killings in the past few years as the Sinaloa drug cartel battles its former allies in the Beltran Leyva cartel and its arch rival the Zetas.
Similar battles have been seen in the northern border state of Coahuila, where nine people were killed Thursday in a pair of shootouts between police and gunmen on one of the main avenues in the state capital, Saltillo. Similar battles have been seen in the northern border state of Coahuila, where nine people were killed on Thursday in two shootouts between police and gunmen on one of the main avenues in the state capital, Saltillo.
The state security spokesman Sergio Sisbeles said eight suspected gunmen and one civilian who was caught in the crossfire had died. The shootouts started after police tried to stop a sport utility vehicle, whose occupants opened fire.The state security spokesman Sergio Sisbeles said eight suspected gunmen and one civilian who was caught in the crossfire had died. The shootouts started after police tried to stop a sport utility vehicle, whose occupants opened fire.