The new wave of Mexican “junior” drug lords

The Mexican drug cartels are reshaping themselves after the recent arrest of Joaquín, “El Chapo”, Guzmán, as well as the extradition or death of former drug kingpins during the last course of the year.

The sons of Joaquín, “El Chapo”, Guzmán and their cousin, “El Mochomito”

Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar and Iván Archivaldo Guzmán gained prominence after the arrest of their father on January 8 this year. “Los Chapitos” or “El Chapo’s sons” were accused of ordering an ambush against a military convoy which resulted in the dead of five soldiers in Culiacán, Sinaloa, last September. However, both brothers publicly distanced themselves from the accusation by issuing a public letter condemning the attack.

Later in the year, both brothers were abducted, allegedly by their cousin, Alfredo Beltrán Guzmán “El Mochomito”, from a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, on August 2016.

“El Mochomito”, son of drug lord Alfredo Beltrán Leyva, “El Mochomo”, was arrested last December in Zapopan, Jalisco, as a result of intelligence works that prevented a single shot being fired during his detention. Alfredo Guzmán Beltrán, “El Mochomito” had fought for the dominance of the “Golden Triangle” against cousins, and sons to “El Chapo”, Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salzar and Alfredo Guzmán Salazar.

Rosa Isela, “El Chapo’s daughter”

Rosa Isela claimed to be the eldest daughter of the notorious drug lord, she gave interviews and denied that his father was a millionaire. She assured that she is the mother to sons of “El Vicentillo”, Vicente Zambada Niebla, who is son of the current head of the Sinaloa cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. “El Vicentillo” is currently serving time in a prison in the U.S.

“El Menchito”

Rubén Oseguera González, “El Menchito”, is the second in command of the New Generation Cartel of Jalisco (CJNG) and was arrested in June 2015. At the time of his arrest, “El Menchito” had US$17 million dollars cash in his private vault and was recovering from a nose surgery intended to change his facial features.

“Vicente Carillo Leyva”

Son of Amado Carillo Fuentes, “The Lord of Heavens”, who it is said that died in an operating room as a result of plastic surgery, was also keen of having his facial features changed. At the time of his arrest in 2008, while exercising in the exclusive high-end neighborhood of Bosques de las Lomas in Mexico City, his face had significant changes in his nose, cheekbones and chin.