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/oct/16/mexican-drug-lord-daughter-held-us

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Mexican drug lord's 'daughter' arrested in US Mexican drug lord's 'daughter' arrested in US
(25 days 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, American officials said.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.
Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar, 31, was arrested on Friday at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing and charged with fraud and misuse of visas and other documents.Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar, 31, was arrested on Friday at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing and charged with fraud and misuse of visas and other documents.
US officials said she told authorities her father was Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. A woman of that name was charged on Monday in a San Diego federal court.US officials said she told authorities her father was Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. A woman of that name was charged on Monday in a San Diego federal court.
Kelly Thornton, a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office said she could not confirm the woman charged was Guzman's daughter.Kelly Thornton, a spokeswoman for the US attorney's office said she could not confirm the woman charged was Guzman's daughter.
Guzmán Salazar hired Jan Ronis, whose previous clients include Benjamín Arellano Félix, dead leader of the Tijuana drug cartel. Ronis said he was just learning about the case and declined to comment on the charges.Guzmán Salazar hired Jan Ronis, whose previous clients include Benjamín Arellano Félix, dead leader of the Tijuana drug cartel. Ronis said he was just learning about the case and declined to comment on the charges.
The complaint said Guzmán Salazar tried 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 complaint said Guzmán Salazar tried 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 Guzmán 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 Guzmán 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 Guzmán'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 Guzmán'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 Guzmán 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.The arrest and investigation of Guzmán 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.
Authorities in the US and Mexico have said they believe Guzmán has children with several partners, though it is not clear how many. The US treasury has put sanctions on his sons Iván Archivaldo "El Chapito" Guzmán Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzmán Lopez, 22.Authorities in the US and Mexico have said they believe Guzmán has children with several partners, though it is not clear how many. The US treasury has put sanctions on his sons Iván Archivaldo "El Chapito" Guzmán Salazar, 31, and Ovidio Guzmán Lopez, 22.
Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, 26, was indicted with his father on multiple drug-trafficking charges in an Illinois court in August 2009.Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, 26, was indicted with his father on multiple drug-trafficking charges in an Illinois court in August 2009.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.