Deadly Empire on Trial: The US Takes Down ‘El Güerito,’ the Notorious Fentanyl Kingpin Bringing Terror to Chicago’s Streets
José Ángel Canobbio Inzunza, alias “El Güerito”, is not a priority target for the authorities, however, he is considered the mastermind behind “Los Chapitos”.
Mexico City, November 7 (However).- A federal jury in Chicago was indicted José Ángel Canobbio Inzunzaalias “The Guerito” and senior member of the The Sinaloa Cartelfor his alleged participation in the manufacture of cocaine, fentanyl and others drugs in Mexicoand then import them to USA.
According to the complaints, the 44-year-old capo served as senior advisorlieutenant a head of security oh Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazaralong with their three brothersas well as leading a squad of the The Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico after the arrest and his father’s prison, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.
“The indictment alleges that Canobbio Inzunza conspired with the brothers, known as the “Chapitos,” and others to manufacture cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana in Mexico and import the drugs into the United States for distributed afterwards,” he said in a statement. statement US Department of Justice.
JUST IN: Feds in Chicago have indicted a top member of the Sinaloa cartel on charges he led an armed security group that helped the sons of ”El Chapo” import fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States
Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, 44, aka “Guerito,” remains at large in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/pTjvokVPZC— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) November 7, 2024
According to the investigations, “El Güerito” financed and directed an armed security group called “Los Chimales”, which was responsible for providing security to Guzmán’s faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, as well as participating in armed conflicts to help ” Los Chapitos” imports drugs into the United States from Mexico.
Given the charges filed in the Northern District of Illinois, US authorities indicated that they are prosecuting the case, through trial lawyer Kirk Handrich of the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section of the country’s Criminal Division. In addition to the participation of Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California, along with prosecutors Andrew Erskine and Michelle Parthum.
“The case is part of the Organized Crime Anti-Drug Task Force (OCDETF) campaign. The OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a multi-agency, intelligence-driven, prosecutor-led approach which leverages the strengths of federal, state and law enforcement agencies. ” the bulletin reads.
High-Ranking Member of Sinaloa Cartel Indicted on Drug Conspiracy Charge
— Criminal Division (@DOJCrimDiv) November 7, 2024
It is worth remembering that there are public figures within the Sinaloa Cartel who have become priority targets for the Mexican and US authorities, so Ovidio Guzmán and Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, alias “El Nini”, are two of the most important members the criminal group that were arrested this year. However, there are those who have lived in hiding for years and, until now, continue to be fugitives from justice, so there are the rest of Los Chapitos and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.
Furthermore, there are those who carry out important functions within the cartel, but who have known how to operate with great discretion, without being noticed by the authorities. In that category is José Ángel Canobbio Inzunza, who is considered the mastermind behind the children of “Chapo” Guzmán.
According to Mexican journalist and drug trafficking expert Anabel Hernández, Canobbio Inzunza plays a key role in fentanyl trafficking and, unlike the top leaders of the cartel, is not on the US list of priority targets.
The 44-year-old capo served as chief adviser, lieutenant and head of security to Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, along with his three brothers Photo: AP.
“He is one of the engineers, one of the creators of this criminal brand and he is one of the main precursors of fentanyl trafficking. If they arrested Los Chapitos, all the brothers, and José Ángel Canobbio were waiting, that would be enough to start, to reset the criminal organization,” the journalist mentioned in an interview for Formula Radio.
The identity of “El Güerito” came to light after the capture of “El Nini” in Culiacán, Sinaloa, as one version of his arrest stated that the security chief of Los Chapitos was betrayed by his own bosses.
According to one of the portal’s colleagues The Beat of the Bordersknown as Vivienne Hearst, everything would have been agreed in a meeting between El Chapo’s children and three of his main collaborators: Oscar Noé Medina, alias “El Panu”; Kevin Gil Acosta, alias “El 200”, and José Ángel Canobbio Inzunza.
The Secretariat of National Defense placed a total of 200 elite members of the Special Forces Corps of the Mexican Army in the entity, the actions occur a day after the arrest of the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel Ismael “Mayo” Zambada. Pictorial image. Picture: Cuartoscuro.
The importance of “El Güerito” had already been revealed in May 2023 through an email sent by Dámaso López Serrano, alias “El Mini Lic”, to various media such as Zeta Tijuana, Riodoce and Borderland Beat.
The document was a response to the letter that Los Chapitos sent days before to the newspaper Milenio, in which they distanced themselves from the trafficking of fentanyl to the United States.
According to Dámaso, “El Güerito” was the one who proposed the manufacture of fake oxycodone pills contaminated with fentanyl, as he ensured that it would be a more profitable business than trafficking cocaine or heroin.
Police officers and soldiers guard the city of Culiacán, in the state of Sonora, Mexico, on January 6, 2023, a day after the Government arrested Ovidio Guzmán, the son of Mexican kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who unleashed a deadly conflict between the Army and alleged members of the Sinaloa Cartel. Pictorial image. Photo: Martin Urista, Archive, AP
Despite these claims, Canobbio Inzunza has not been identified by the United States as one of the main operatives of Los Chapitos, although that situation could change very soon.
To date, Canobbio Inzunza is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances for illegal importation into the United States; however, if convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
With information from La Opinion.
