El Chapo's Son Pleads Not Guilty in Chicago Court

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of notorious Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, entered a not guilty plea to federal drug trafficking charges during his arraignment in a Chicago federal court on Tuesday. The 38-year-old appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit before U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman, as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Guzman Lopez was arrested in El Paso, Texas, alongside Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, the co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, after arriving on a private plane. The circumstances surrounding their arrests have sparked significant international interest, particularly regarding the methods used to apprehend these high-profile cartel figures. Following the arrests, Zambada Garcia's attorney, Frank Perez, claimed that Guzman Lopez had kidnapped his client and forced him onto the plane. In contrast, a federal law enforcement source indicated that Guzman Lopez voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities, while Zambada Garcia was taken into custody. Zambada Garcia, who has been implicated in numerous U.S. drug cases, including a recent indictment for fentanyl distribution, is considered a key player in one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations. With Zambada Garcia now incarcerated, experts express concern that he may choose to cooperate with U.S. authorities, potentially implicating other influential figures in Mexico and revealing deeper connections between the cartels and government entities.