Although Mexican authorities have dealt several significant blows to the criminal organization of Los Chapitos, led by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, including the killings and arrests of people very close to him, a Mexican journalist who specializes in drug trafficking said the recent wave of murders and detentions targeting the inner circle of the son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán may have other motives.
According to journalist José Luis Montenegro, an expert on organized crime and cartels, Iván Archivaldo himself allegedly ordered the handover of his father-in-law, brother-in-law, and his right-hand man and head of security after detecting betrayals and information leaks within his inner circle.
According to information shared by Montenegro, the downfall of Mario Lindoro Elenes, Iván Archivaldo's father-in-law, Mario Alfredo Lindoro Navidad, his brother-in-law, and Óscar Noé Medina González, also known as "El Panu," Iván Archivaldo's head of security and compadre, was not a coincidence.
In an interview with Aristegui Noticias, the journalist said Guzmán Salazar allegedly gave his father-in-law and brother-in-law an ultimatum to turn themselves in after losing trust in them following a suspected leak of images showing him with his wife and son, which spread quickly on social media weeks ago.
According to Montenegro's sources, the leaks were allegedly ordered and facilitated by the three trusted figures, triggering Iván Archivaldo's decision to turn them over to authorities.
Elenes and Navidad were detained in Jalisco, where drugs, firearms and cash were seized at the time of their arrest. According to reports, Iván Archivaldo's father-in-law and brother-in-law were believed to have handled finances for Los Chapitos.
In the case of El Panu, he was considered Iván Archivaldo's top lieutenant and was responsible for the cartel leader's personal security. He was also a key figure in the faction's drug trafficking operations, including the expansion of fentanyl distribution in Mexico and the United States.
The betrayal was considered so serious that El Panu spent at least two weeks hiding in Mexico City before he was killed at a restaurant, fearing retaliation from Los Chapitos.
"El Panu had already spent at least two weeks established in Mexico City with some of his relatives out of fear, precisely, of retaliation from the Los Chapitos cartel. These figures already felt they were being pursued," Montenegro said, as reported by Infobae México.
The killing of Medina González represented another blow to Los Chapitos' security circle, which has seen significant losses over the past few months due to arrests and killings.
In total, four high-ranking members of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán's security team have been arrested or killed this year. On Feb. 19, federal authorities arrested José Ángel Canobbio Inzunza, alias "El Güerito," who is believed to have overseen Los Chapitos' finances and led a criminal cell known as Los Chimales, tasked with protecting El Chapo's sons.
That same day, authorities also arrested Kevin Alonso Gil Acosta, known as "El 200," identified as a suspected operator and head of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán's security team.
Another trusted associate of the Los Chapitos leader who was killed this year was Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, known as "La Perris," who died during a security operation in the state of Sinaloa in May.
According to U.S. government investigations, Figueroa Benítez was responsible for ensuring the security of Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, alias "El Nini," the former head of security for Los Chapitos.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
