Despite Mexico’s staunch insistence on its independent handling of operations against Ovidio Guzmán, known infamously as “El Ratón,” newly disclosed official documents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) suggest otherwise.
In a letter directed at Senator Charles Grassley, ICE’s deputy director, Patrick J. Lechleitner, disclosed that the U.S. intelligence operation played a significant role in both captures of Ovidio Guzmán in 2019 and 2023, as well as the apprehension of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in 2016. This operation, named Operation Paisano, has been led by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
According to Lechleitner, Operation Paisano has accumulated evidence and laid out indictments against “El Chapo” and other dominant figures in the Sinaloa Cartel. The HSI’s involvement was pivotal in prosecuting “Chapo” during 2018 and 2019, as it led to the arrest, extradition, and appearance of several key witnesses against the notorious drug lord.
The Tangible Impact of Operation Paisano
Lechleitner further highlighted the significance of Operation Paisano in facilitating formal charges against Ovidio and his sibling, Joaquín Guzmán, colloquially known as “El Güero”, through the U.S. Department of Justice. As a result of these investigations, both “El Chapo’s” sons were marked as priority targets by the U.S. in 2019.
The deputy director also emphasized the HSI’s dedication to building strong indictments capable of weathering Mexico’s exacting extradition process.
The Dark Episode of 2019
The letter to Senator Grassley states, “Operation Paisano led to the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez in Culiacan, Sinaloa, in October 2019”. This specific event is now etched in Mexico’s history as one of its most violent days. The backlash from Los Chapitos following “El Ratón’s” capture resulted in the tragic loss of at least 12 lives.
This violence prompted President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) to order the immediate release of the cartel leader, a move that inadvertently showcased the overwhelming influence of Los Chapitos. In the wake of such events, the HSI Special Operations Unit maintained surveillance on this Sinaloa Cartel faction.
Consolidating Forces against the Guzmán Offspring
In subsequent years, HSI joined forces with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Justice. Together, they unified all charges against the Guzmán offspring into one formidable indictment, ensuring maximum penalties for each crime. Los Chapitos, believed to be led by Ivan Archivaldo Guzman now, are at the forefront of the U.S.’s war against drug trafficking.
Before Ovidio Guzmán’s second arrest in December 2022, federal prosecutors laid out a new collective indictment against several members of the Guzmán family, which comprised 36 legal violations linked to their involvement in organized crime. Out of these, 11 were directly attributed to the investigative prowess of Operation Paisano.
The Most Recent Capture
The documents further mention that on January 5, 2023, the HSI successfully coordinated with Mexican agencies to apprehend Ovidio Guzmán in Jesus Maria, Culiacan. While the specifics of the HSI’s role in this operation remain undisclosed, it is confirmed that they collaborated with the Department of Justice in initiating the extradition process for “El Ratón.” This process, however, faces numerous legal obstructions and challenges.