Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, former head of the Sinaloa cartel, is attempting to reopen a political front from his maximum-security prison in the United States. His lawyer in Mexico, Gerardo Rincón Flores, claims he will provide U.S. authorities with a list of 32 officials allegedly linked to drug traffickingThis list, at this stage, has not been made publicNo full name has been officially confirmed. No conclusive documents have been publicly presented.
Peña Nieto, López Obrador, Morena: the targeted circles
According to Rincón Flores' statements, the names concern people linked to the administrations ofEnrique Peña Nieto andAndrés Manuel López ObradorThe lawyer also claims that some of the officials mentioned are still in office, while others have left their posts or are in political withdrawal.
Guzmán claims to be targeting networks that are still active or have recently become active within the Mexican public apparatus. The lawyer maintains that the list is longer than previously mentioned: not ten names, but thirty-two.
Direct pressure on Mexico
The case emerges as El Chapo intensifies his efforts from the ADX Florence federal prison in Colorado. He has sent several letters to the U.S. justice system to contest his situation, request a judicial response, and demand his transfer to Mexico.
Guzmán is trying to elicit an official response. He presents himself as an isolated prisoner, ignored by Mexican authorities, and seeks to shift the focus of the case to Washington. The promise of a list of drug cartel officials adds a political dimension to a battle that until now has been primarily a prison and legal one.
The United States has already closed one door
Timing is crucial for Guzmán. In late June, a federal court in Colorado rejected his civil suit concerning his detention conditions at ADX Florence, where he has been denouncing for months the isolation and conditions he describes as inhumane. The judge closed the case in favor of the U.S. authorities. His offensive regarding the detention conditions was unsuccessful. The list of 32 officials now appears as another lever: no longer just to ask for help, but to offer potentially sensitive information on political figures involved in drug trafficking.
A life prisoner, but still capable of causing a political stir
As a reminder, El Chapo is serving a sentence of life imprisonment plus 30 years Since his conviction in the United States in 2019, he has been under intense scrutiny. The American justice system found him guilty of leading a criminal enterprise linked to the Sinaloa cartel, involving drug trafficking, money laundering, and violence. He was also ordered to forfeit $12,6 billion. His legal options are very limited. But politically, his name remains toxic. A list sent to the United States, if it contains usable information, could trigger investigations, requests for cooperation, or even new cases against Mexican officials.
What might follow
If the list is actually handed over, two scenarios are possible. Either the US authorities deem it insufficient, unverifiable, or biased, and it remains merely a pressure tactic. Or some elements overlap with existing investigations, and the case could become explosive for current and former Mexican officials. For now, only one thing is certain: from his cell at ADX Florence, El Chapo is trying to turn his isolation into a political weapon. And the stated target is no longer just the US prison, but the alleged links between the Mexican government and drug trafficking.
