Sinaloa Cartel leaders have quietly entered the United States under federal protection, part of a secretive Trump-era deal aimed at dismantling one of the most dangerous criminal empires on earth. The operation, confirmed by Mexican officials, signals a bold shift in U.S. strategy against drug cartels—trading safe passage for intel.
Cartel Families Cross the Border Under U.S. Watch
Mexico’s top security official, Omar García Harfuch, confirmed what many suspected: relatives of Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of infamous drug kingpin El Chapo, were escorted into the U.S. with federal approval. The border crossing took place in Tijuana, and the group was handed over to U.S. custody in what Harfuch called a Department of Justice negotiation.
Guzmán López, a high-ranking Sinaloa figure himself, is expected to plead guilty and cooperate with federal authorities to avoid a lengthy trial. In exchange, his family—potential targets of revenge—has been granted protective relocation.
U.S. Strategy: Turn Cartel Kings Into Informants
Sources close to the deal suggest Guzmán López holds key intelligence on the Sinaloa Cartel’s smuggling routes, money laundering, and corruption pipelines. Federal prosecutors see this as a chance to unravel the cartel from within—using insider testimony to go after remaining bosses.
This is how terrorists are received in the United States, as heroes. Where is the rant that criminals are not accepted there.
The mother and 16 other relatives of Ovidio Guzmán López crossed the border from Tijuana to San Diego on Friday to surrender to the protection of the… pic.twitter.com/DAbzJ5FbyZ
— Be free.🔥 (@CascaritaRebel) May 13, 2025
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon has already issued warnings to Sinaloa leadership, and DOJ officials have filed “narcoterrorism” charges to hammer down pressure. With cartel loyalty now shaken, the feds are hoping paranoia will destabilize the command structure.
Mexico Blindsided as Tensions Flare
Despite the deal’s magnitude, Mexican prosecutors were left in the dark. García Harfuch says no information was shared by the U.S., stoking diplomatic tensions and raising alarms about national sovereignty.
17 relatives of Ovidio Guzman, incl. his mom Griselda Lopez, arrived in #Tijuana and then crossed into the San Ysidro border where USA agents were waiting for them. Move tied to Ovidio’s plea deal, set for June 2025.
Sh1t is going to hit the fan for #morena.#Mexico #Narcostate pic.twitter.com/EQhGGxdC5y
— David Wolf (@DavidWolf777) May 13, 2025
The lack of coordination reveals deep distrust between the two countries’ law enforcement systems. Some in Mexico fear this unilateral approach could fracture future cross-border operations, even as cartel violence continues to spill into both nations.
Cartel Empire Shaken by High-Profile Defection
The move is already sending shockwaves through the Sinaloa Cartel, where loyalty and silence are everything. Guzmán López’s cooperation marks a rare public betrayal from inside the family—potentially triggering power struggles, revenge killings, or collapse.
If the intelligence proves as explosive as officials believe, this deal could cripple one of the most dangerous transnational crime groups operating today. But it also signals a bold new strategy under Trump’s Justice Department: flip the kingpins, and take down the cartel from the top.