El Chapo’s Son Ivan Guzman Reportedly Kidnapped At Mexico Resort
The son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has reportedly been kidnapped in an attempt to overthrow the imprisoned infamous drug lord for good.
According to The Guardian, the incident happened in the western state of Jalisco at the restaurant of a Mexican resort. Jalisco state Attorney General Eduardo Almaguer told reporters “it is presumed,” that 32-year-old Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán was among the five men kidnapped by a criminal group early Monday morning (Aug. 15). Authorities believe those who were kidnapped had been visiting Puerto Vallarta for a least a week under false identities.
The gang has assumed to be Jalisco New Generation cartel, a fairly new operation that has grown over the past five years. If confirmed, the kidnapping shows a power shift among the drug cartels. Adrian López, editor of El Noreoeste, tells The Guardian that El Chapo’s competitors are using his time away from the business to stand in line for the top spot. “His enemies are taking advantage of his distraction with extradition and his weakness,” Lopez said. “After his third arrest, he has been weakened even more. It seems like he employed a lot of resources in the last escape.”
According to the Associated Press, the incident can also be analyzed as an attack against El Chapo’s family. In June, an armed group invaded the home of his elderly mother in Sinaloa.
Since the news of his father’s escape and recapture, Guzman has presumptively taken over the family business. A twitter account linked to Guzman shows over 160,000 followers and photos of a luxurious lifestyle.
