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Mexican drug lord's 'daughter' arrested in US Mexican drug lord's 'daughter' arrested in US
(35 minutes later)
The daughter of one of the world's most sought-after drug lords has been charged with trying to enter the US on someone else's passport, US officials said on Monday. The daughter of one of the world's most sought-after drug lords has been charged with trying to enter the US on someone else's passport, American officials said on Monday.
Alejandrina Gisselle Guzman Salazar, 31, was arrested on Friday at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing and charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents.Alejandrina Gisselle Guzman Salazar, 31, was arrested on Friday at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing and charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents.
US officials said that she told authorities her father was Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. US officials said she told authorities her father was Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel.
A woman under that name was charged on Monday in federal court in San Diego. A spokeswoman for the US attorney's office said she could not confirm that the woman charged was Guzman's daughter. A woman under that name was charged on Monday in federal court in San Diego. A spokeswoman for the US attorney's office said she could not confirm the woman charged was Guzman's daughter.
Guzman Salazar hired Jan Ronis, whose previous clients include Benjamin Arellano Felix, the fallen leader of the eponymous Mexican drug cartel. Ronis said he was just learning about the case and declined to comment on the charges.Guzman Salazar hired Jan Ronis, whose previous clients include Benjamin Arellano Felix, the fallen leader of the eponymous Mexican drug cartel. Ronis said he was just learning about the case and declined to comment on the charges.
The complaint said Guzman Salazar attempted to enter the country on foot, presenting a non-immigrant visa contained in a Mexican passport. She told authorities that she was pregnant and intended to go to Los Angeles to give birth. The complaint said Guzman Salazar attempted to enter the country on foot, presenting a non-immigrant visa contained in a Mexican passport. She told authorities she was pregnant and intended to go to Los Angeles to give birth.
The significance of the arrest will depend on what Guzman Salazar can tell authorities about her father. David Shirk, director of the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute, said: "We don't know exactly what she knows. It may just be an interesting factoid in the war on drugs or it could be a vital clue for law enforcement ... This is the kind of random development that could potentially shift the tides." The significance of the arrest will depend on what Guzman Salazar can tell authorities about her father. David Shirk, director of the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute, said: "We don't know exactly what she knows. It may just be an interesting factoid in the war on drugs or it could be a vital clue for law enforcement … This is the kind of random development that could potentially shift the tides."
The Los Angeles Times reported last year that Guzman's wife — former beauty queen Emma Coronel — travelled to Southern California and gave birth to twin girls at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, north of Los Angeles. The newspaper said Coronel, then 22, holds US citizenship, which entitles her to travel freely to the US and to use its hospitals. The Los Angeles Times reported last year that Guzman's wife – former beauty queen Emma Coronel – travelled to Southern California and gave birth to twin girls at Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster, north of Los Angeles. The newspaper said Coronel, then 22, holds US citizenship, which entitles her to travel freely to the US and to use its hospitals.
"You kind of surmise that there's some family connection back to Southern California," Eric Olson, associate director of the Wilson Centre's Mexico Institute said of this week's development. "You kind of surmise that there's some family connection back to southern California," Eric Olson, associate director of the Wilson Centre's Mexico Institute said of this week's development.
The arrest and investigation of Guzman Salazar were handled by US Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the nation's largest border crossing in San Diego. The arrest and investigation of Guzman Salazar were handled by US Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the nation's largest border crossing in San Diego. A bail hearing was scheduled for 25 October.
A bail hearing was scheduled for 25 October.
Authorities in the US and Mexico have said they believe Guzman has children with several partners, though it is not clear how many. The US treasury department has put sanctions on sons Ivan Archivaldo "El Chapito" Guzman Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 22.Authorities in the US and Mexico have said they believe Guzman has children with several partners, though it is not clear how many. The US treasury department has put sanctions on sons Ivan Archivaldo "El Chapito" Guzman Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 22.
Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 26, was indicted with his father on multiple drug trafficking charges in an Illinois court in August 2009.Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 26, was indicted with his father on multiple drug trafficking charges in an Illinois court in August 2009.