Who is Griselda Lopez, El Chapo Guzman's Ex-Wife Who Turned Herself into US Custody with Her Family?

The name Griselda has become synonymous with organized crime, largely thanks to Sofía Vergara's portrayal of the Colombian drug lord in the hit Netflix series 'Griselda.' But she wasn't the only Griselda involved in the Latin American drug trade.

Another woman, Griselda López Pérez, now under U.S. custody, was also deeply connected to organized crime—this time in Mexico. She is best known as the Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the infamous leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the mother of several of his children, including some of the so-called "Chapitos" who now face U.S. indictments.

While she had kept a lower profile than her Colombian namesake, Griselda López has long been on the radar of law enforcement. Her connections to the Sinaloa Cartel place her at the heart of one of the most powerful and violent criminal organizations in the world.

López Pérez voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities on May 9, 2025, at the San Ysidro border crossing between Tijuana and San Diego.

She was accompanied by 17 family members, including children and grandchildren of the notorious drug lord. Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch confirmed that the surrender is part of an agreement with U.S. authorities related to the legal process of López's son, Ovidio, who is currently in U.S. custody.

López, also known by the alias Karla Pérez Rojo, was married to El Chapo during the height of his power and influence in the Mexican drug trade. The couple had four children together: Joaquín, Édgar, Ovidio, and Griselda Guadalupe. According to the reports, Grisel, as the daughter is known, was part of the group.

Édgar was assassinated in 2008, while Ovidio, known as "El Ratón," was captured and extradited to the U.S. in 2023. He now faces serious charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime.

Her own legal problems

However, López is no stranger to U.S. authorities. In 2012, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned López under the Kingpin Act, accusing her of facilitating her husband's drug trafficking operations. Although she was briefly detained in Mexico in 2010, she was released the following day without charges.

The family's surrender appears part of a broader cooperation agreement between Ovidio Guzmán and U.S. authorities. According to journalist Luis Chaparro, Ovidio requested his family's relocation to the United States as part of his plea deal. Reports suggest that the family may receive permanent residency in exchange for their cooperation. The group reportedly traveled from Culiacán, Sinaloa, to Tijuana before crossing the border, where they were met by U.S. federal agents.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has acknowledged the situation but stated that her government has not received official information from the United States regarding the family's legal entry or any associated agreements. "We don't have any more information than what has come out in the news... But it's important to note that this person was extradited from Mexico...and the U.S. government should also inform the District Attorney's office because the DA's office has their investigations."