[FoxNews] Federal officials declare 'the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel' as Ovidio Guzman Lopez admits guilt in Chicago courtroom
One of the sons of notorious drug lord "El Chapo" pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court in Chicago to major drug charges and running the Sinaloa Cartel in his father's absence.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 35, admitted to running part of the Sinaloa Cartel, coordinating massive drug shipments, including fentanyl, heroin and cocaine into the U.S. and using violence to protect cartel operations, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
His plea is part of a broader federal strategy, "Operation Take Back America," aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel.
"Today’s guilty plea is another major step toward holding the Sinaloa Cartel and its leaders accountable for their role in fueling the fentanyl epidemic that has plagued so many Americans," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a news release.
"We remain committed to dismantling the Cartel’s entire fentanyl infrastructure and ensuring that the Chapitos and their violent organization can no longer flood our communities with this poison."
Guzman Lopez admitted in the plea agreement that he coordinated the transportation of cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and other drugs and precursor chemicals from Mexico to the United States border, at times in shipments of hundreds or thousands of kilograms, according to federal officials. He used a network of couriers affiliated with the cartel to smuggle the drugs into the United States, using vehicles, rail cars, tunnels, aircraft and other means, the plea agreement states.
After the drugs were distributed throughout the United States, officials said, individuals working for Guzman Lopez used bulk cash transport, wire transfers, trade of goods and cryptocurrency to launder the illicit proceeds and ensure that the money was transmitted to Guzman Lopez and other members of the cartel in Mexico.
Guzman Lopez then admitted he and his cartel associates committed violent acts against law enforcement officials, civilians and rival drug traffickers to protect the cartel’s drug-trafficking activities.
As part of the plea agreement, Guzman Lopez will also forfeit $80 million, though his sentencing date hasn't been set.
That will go some way toward catching and trying him.
He is one of four brothers known as "The Chapitos," who took over after their father’s arrest in 2016.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez was arrested last year and is being held in the U.S. without bail. He pleaded not guilty and is waiting for his trial in Illinois.
Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar are also facing charges in Illinois and New York. They have not been arrested yet, and warrants have been issued for their arrests.
Federal officials praised the guilty plea, saying "with each passing day, you are seeing the sunset of the Sinaloa Cartel."
"The Chapitos’ latest violence reflects their fading future. Their leaders who remain free are now paranoid, distrusted and desperate," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon wrote.
The U.S. State Department has issued rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrests and convictions.
"The guilty plea by Ovidio Guzman Lopez, son of ‘El Chapo,’ is a real victory for both the United States and Mexico but also a clear win for the rule of law," said Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Ray Rede.
"So much blood and violence lay with the Guzman family as well as spreading terror and plaguing both sides of the border with deadly drugs and weapons — no more. It’s impossible to measure the amount of work HSI and partner agencies have spent in securing this guilty verdict, but what is clear and evident is that no one is beyond the reach of law enforcement and our nation’s laws. Deliberate and coordinated teamwork resulted in today’s victory."
[Fox News] Nine unaccompanied children rescued as protesters clash with authorities at Glass House Farms facilities.
The President of Glass House Farms, the cannabis farm that federal immigration authorities raided in California on Thursday despite protests, has donated thousands to Democrats in California.
Co-founder, president, and board director Graham Farrar, who self-identifies on social media as residing in Santa Barbara, California, has made numerous political donations to the Santa Barbara County Democratic Central Committee’s federal political action committee and Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., according to Federal Election Commission records.
According to California public campaign finance records, he also donated $10,000 to California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018, and his most recent public political donation was to California Democratic Assemblymember Gregg Hart in July 2023. Read the rest at the link
Courtesy of Fred:
[X]
An illegal migrant ran to escape ICE during the weed farm raid in California
He fell 30 feet off a building and is in the hospital on life support
“He was working on the farm to send money to his wife and daughter in Mexico”
📮🚨🟥 They never told you this, but that “weed farm” wasn’t just a grow op—it was part of a cash funneling network tied to two shell companies in San Diego and Sinaloa, both flagged in a 2022 DHS report that mysteriously never went public.
… The migrant who fell 30 feet?
He wasn’t just a worker—he was a “runner,” the middleman moving crypto-backed wages between the cartel-linked farm and a fintech app used to quietly launder payouts as “agricultural remittances.”
Oof. Good to know.
And ICE? They weren’t just doing a raid.
They were shutting down a pilot route used by a broader network that’s already operating in Oregon and Nevada.
Oh dear. Very good to know.
This wasn’t about escaping arrest.
It was about interrupting a pipeline.
Part 2 drops soon.
Why is one of the farm’s LLC owners also listed as a donor to a California immigration nonprofit with D.C. lobbying ties? 👀
[Federalist] Democrats are continuing their assault on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by faking outrage over a raid where officers saved illegal alien children from an alleged child labor operation on a marijuana farm in Southern California.
ICE agents on Thursday executed a federal search warrant at a Camarillo, Ventura County, marijuana growing operation, Glass House Farms, where 10 illegal alien children were found (eight without an adult) allegedly staffing the farm. A raid of another Glass House Farms location happened in Carpinteria on the same day. According to the Los Angeles Times, officials said that 200 illegal aliens were also detained.
#2
Gotta wonder if Newsom got more than just a $10,000 contribution to his election campaign from this outfit. He sure squealed like a stuck pig when the place got raided.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
07/12/2025 11:25 Comments ||
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#3
I think that is just a tip, like when you go to a French Restaurant and the screen is like, "Would you like a 15%, 20%, or 25% tip?" with a max of $10k.
Sort of like getting your name on a PBS Gold Fundraiser List, it's access.
Sort of a Membership Card Fee. Oh, you work for Child Pot Pickers? I'm a bit of a Child Slave Workers Program Advocate myself. Would you like a 'pizza'?
[Breitbart] President Donald Trump directed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan to instruct ICE and DHS agents to arrest rioters throwing objects at their vehicles.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained that he “never” wanted to “see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again.” Trump explained that as he was on his way back to Washington, DC, from Texas, he “watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
“I am on my way back from Texas, and watched in disbelief as THUGS were violently throwing rocks and bricks at ICE Officers while they were moving down a roadway in their car and/or official vehicle,” Trump said. “Tremendous damage was done to these brand new vehicles. I know for a fact that these Officers are having a hard time with allowing this to happen in that it shows such total disrespect for LAW AND ORDER.”
Trump added that Noem and Homan were being directed “to instruct all ICE, Homeland Security, or any other Law Enforcement Officer who is on the receiving end of thrown rocks, bricks, or any other forms of assault, to stop their car, and arrest these SLIMEBALLS, using whatever means is necessary to do so.”
“I am giving Total Authorization for ICE to protect itself, just like they protect the Public,” Trump continued. “I never wanted to see a car carrying a Law Enforcement Officer attacked again! AUTHORIZATION IMMEDIATELY GRANTED FOR ARREST AND INCARCERATION.”
As Breitbart News has previously reported, protesters involved in the Los Angeles riots were seen hurling rocks and other objects at U.S. Border Patrol vehicles and other law enforcement officials.
Rioters in Portland have also previously been seen as having assaulted law enforcement officials with fireworks and explosives.
Breitbart News’s Bob Price reported that a Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Constable had arrested a 22-year-old man who reportedly “attempted to interfere with” an ICE workplace operation, and who reportedly caused “damage to one of the vehicles.”
Continued on Page 47
#2
If we start actually arresting this trash, we are looking at having to Build and Staff several more Gator Gitmos and Bear Gitmos.
18 US Code 111 Section (b) Enhanced Penalty.—
Whoever, in the commission of any acts described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component) or inflicts bodily injury, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
BTW:
I hear the Fishing & Hunting is pretty good at either location. So where do we volunteer to help with the construction?
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. by Leonid Tsukanov
[REGNUM] A delegation of EU ministers led by European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner recently arrived at Libya's Benghazi airport to discuss the fight against illegal migration with local officials.
However, upon arrival, the European guests were suddenly declared persona non grata and banned from entering.
How interesting.
Moreover, this was done not by the central government in Tripoli, but by the “alternative cabinet” that controls the east of the country.
The central government in Tripoli controls about the central business district in Tripoli, as I recall — we haven’t been playing close attention to them as not much has been happening there.
The diplomatic row seems to herald a quick end to Brussels' balancing act between the two centers of power in Libya. However, Europe is in no hurry to make the first move, rightly fearing that it will only make things worse.
TWO HEADS
Dual power in Libya is not a new phenomenon. After the overthrow of the country's leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country plunged into a protracted civil war from which it has not been able to emerge to this day.
By the mid-2010s, two centers of power had emerged in Libya.
One is in the capital Tripoli, which claims to be legitimate and enjoys the support of the UN, Turkey and a number of Western countries. It is led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
The other is in Tobruk, in the east of the country, challenging the legitimacy of Tripoli and relying on the support of some of its European neighbors (such as Italy and Spain) and Egypt. Its face is the commander of the local armed forces, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar ...Self-proclaimed Field Marshal, served in the Libyan army under Muammar Qadaffy, and took part in the coup that brought Qadaffy to power in 1969. He became a prisoner of war in Chad in 1987. While held prisoner, he and his fellow officers formed a group hoping to overthrow Qadaffy, so it's kind of hard to describe him as a Qadaffy holdover. He was released around 1990 in a deal with the United States government and spent nearly two decades in the United States, gaining US citizenship. In 1993, while living in the United States, he was convicted in absentia of crimes against the Jamahiriya and sentenced to death. Haftar held a senior position in the anti-Qadaffy forces in the 2011 Libyan Civil War. In 2014 he was commander of the Libyan Army when the General National Congress (GNC) refused to give up power in accordance with its term of office. Haftar launched a campaign against the GNC and its Islamic fundamentalist allies. His campaign allowed elections to take place to replace the GNC, but then developed into a civil war. Guess you can't win them all. Actually, he is, but slowly... The governments of Tripoli and Tobruk exist side by side, periodically engaging in armed clashes. At the same time, they appoint their ministers and conclude international agreements on the development of mineral resources and the delimitation of territorial waters (often mutually exclusive or contradictory).
The attempts of the world community to weld the East and West into a single “transitional cabinet” have led to nothing – their views on the future of the country are too different.
However, the European Union, as one of Libya's major neighbours, has to find ways to coexist with the divided country, responding to the threats it poses as best it can.
A SORE POINT
Thousands of residents of Africa and the Middle East flee to the Old World through the “Libyan corridor” every year, hoping to receive refugee status in the EU or at least move to safer places.
Many of them die along the way, especially off the coast of Italy and Greece, where the currents are too strong. In the last six months alone, at least 700 cases of illegal migrants dying on the water have been recorded, about 60% of them in Italian territorial waters.
Rome and Brussels, still suffering from the consequences of the previous migration crisis of 2015, are trying to combat the influx of migrants, cut off illegal routes and centrally send captured illegal immigrants back to their historical homeland.
But they cannot defeat the attack without help from the other side, that is, from Libya. High-ranking European officials have to go there every now and then for consultations. Moreover, they have to interact with both Tripoli and Tobruk at the same time - observing the same politeness.
Eurosceptics, while seeing this behavior as “undermining the legitimacy” of the UN-endorsed government, turn a blind eye to the situation: Haftar’s forces control about 40% of Libya’s coastal area.
Some of the settlements in the east (for example, the village of Kurat Makrun near Benghazi) have repeatedly appeared in the testimonies of surviving illegals. And the timely closure of these channels would help strengthen trust in the alternative government and its leaders.
However, contrary to expectations, Europe's recent attempts to coordinate with Tobruk have ended in a major diplomatic scandal.
GOT CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE
As soon as the European officials led by Brunner arrived in Benghazi, they were immediately accused of "disregarding the sovereignty" of Libya and violating entry rules. On behalf of Haftar, the delegates were protested and informed of the need to immediately leave the country without the right to return.
The scandal is made even more acute by the fact that among the expelled European officials were representatives of countries with which the alternative government had fairly warm relations.
For example, Matteo Piantedosi, head of the Italian Interior Ministry, was sanctioned. During the period of the most intense rivalry between Tripoli and Tobruk, he (then still the head of the Interior Minister's administration) participated in the development of a number of peacekeeping initiatives. For example, in the involvement of Libyan tribal militias to stabilize the domestic political situation, prevent smuggling and illegal migration.
The "border initiative" of Piantedosi and his colleagues played into the hands of not only Tripoli, but also Tobruk, since the work of the border detachments, recruited from the Tubu and Tuaregs, was financed from the European pocket and excluded rebellion in the rear.
Greece was also a tactical ally of the Eastern forces for some time, trying to annoy Turkey with the help of Tobruk. Its Minister of the Interior was also labeled non grata, which enraged Athens. The country's authorities declared that they would not tolerate diplomatic manipulation and would demand explanations from the East.
THE ROOT OF THE SCANDAL
Probably the reason for such a cold reception of yesterday's friends lies in the decision of European officials to upset the established balance and hold consultations first in Tripoli, and only then with Tobruk.
Until now, EU delegates had always started negotiations with “non-state actors” in order to take their position into account in subsequent contacts with opponents and find a compromise.
Moreover, this time Tripoli clearly violated the status quo: Prime Minister Dbeibah announced the development of new mechanisms for regulating migration in Libya, which, among other things, would expand the powers of the Libyan coast guard and allow it to operate even in those waters that were formally controlled by the east.
Until recently, this approach seemed advantageous to the EU, as it would allow interaction with the Libyan coastguard on a one-stop-shop basis, via Tripoli, and would also take the burden off Tobruk.
Moreover, officials in the east regularly complained to Brussels about the lack of personnel and resources for continuous monitoring of the coast.
However, from Tobruk’s point of view, Dbeibah’s initiative created a threat of constant provocations from Tripoli for the alternative Libyan government, including attempts to accuse Haftar’s supporters of organizing “migrant routes” to the Old World.
Both Brussels and Tripoli are now somewhat confused by what happened in Benghazi. However, this is more likely the calm before the storm.
European sceptics are calling on EU leaders to cut ties with the alternative leadership and focus on interaction with Tripoli, including in the hope that Haftar, deprived of external support, will quickly back down.
On the other hand, such tactics are fraught with a new round of armed struggle between the east and west of Libya - and an attempt by Tobruk to gain legitimacy by force. Especially since one of the conditions for ending the previous clashes was precisely the obligation of external forces to communicate not only with Tripoli.
Moreover, the east of the country is well aware of the effectiveness of the “migration bogeyman” and in response to increased pressure they may open their coastline to “caravans to Europe.” Or at least create such a conviction in their opponents.
Greece was the first to come under attack, being the one most outraged by the diplomatic scandal: the very next day after the incident in Benghazi, local media began writing about blackmail by the Haftar government. Allegedly, Tobruk demanded several billion dollars from Athens, threatening to “flood” the country with illegals in case of refusal.
And although the claims of blackmail may turn out to be rumors sponsored by Haftar's opponents, Europe took this as a signal and is in no hurry to sever ties with eastern Libya.
#1
Any time anyone brings up the old lie that NATO is a "defensive alliance", point out that it attacked Libya.
Under the R2P protocol, a favorite of Madeline Albright.
Libya was found by the ICC to be committing a genocide on its own territory and got regime changed.
ICC were disappointed that Gaddafi got a knife up his ass instead of them getting him to put him on trial and put his scalp in their trophy case.
...The pilots of the deadly Air India crash that killed 241 people on board had questioned whether each other had switched of the plane's fuel supplies moments before it crashed, according to a report.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is thought to have lost power when the fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped, starving the engines of fuel, according to the report by Indian accident investigators. That was not on my bingo card...
#1
Anomalous Sources, you forgot to give us the URL for the article. Please add as a comment, and one of the moderators will paste it into the Source box for you.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
07/12/2025 2:14 Comments ||
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#5
Refusal by the pilot to admit he'd made a mistake because he'd lose face in front of his subordinate.
Gee, aren't foreign cultures great?
300 people and both of them died, but he died with his honor intact.
I guess, if it had one of those emergency bar switches in case of problems on the tarmac, like some dude trying to jump into an engine, but if it was a heavy flight on takeoff only a couple seconds would make a difference.
Is there video? If commercially available security system has days of video, audio, and instrumental data potential in the size of a shoe box. Like that scene in Red October, "You fool...you killed us."
#10
On the television today a reporter mentioned the turnoff toggle is not a simple switch. The pilot or copilot need to pull, twist and the turn the fuel off. The switch is designed to require intention and avoid accidental shut off. Hopefully the data black box can determine if the pilot or copilot were actively performing other activities during actual shut off to determine which cockpit person screwed up or intentionally caused the accident
Former Indonesian President: China's rise proves Global South can shape the world order Diah Permata Megawati Soekarno Putri, general chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the 5th president of Indonesia, addressed the Global Civilizations Dialogue… pic.twitter.com/i3XtfsESO1
…addressed the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting in Beijing on Thursday. She praised China as a model for development, highlighting its transformation from a participant in the Bandung Conference to a major global power. She also emphasized that China's development path demonstrates that countries in the Global South are fully capable of becoming a central force in shaping the global order.
The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, with focus on the importance of cultural diversity and mutual learning in advancing human progress. Themed "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," the two-day event drew over 600 guests from 140 countries and regions. #CivilizationsDialogue #Indonesia #china #GlobalSouth #BandungConference She's the one who who assured us there wasn't any danger of al-Qaeda in Indonesia.
The U.S. State Department has authorized a potential $100 million Foreign Military Sale of equipment and support services for Lebanon’s A-29 Super Tucano aircraft, according to the Pentagon. pic.twitter.com/Fodsn5TsHt
US Syria Envoy Tom Barrack presses the Kurdish‑led SDF to merge into Jolani’s state institutions, warning that if negotiations stall “a different option may come into play.” Diplomatic squeeze on SDF as regional dynamics shift. pic.twitter.com/5qd04QWvAs
"The Islamic Republic has dealt a severe blow to the United States; It attacked and hit one of its main bases in the area, the Al-Udeid Air Force Base. The fact that Iran has access to important American centers in the region… pic.twitter.com/EsuKddfbiN
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
