U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has listed Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar as one of its most wanted fugitives for leading drug trafficking operations within the Sinaloa Cartel.
According to ICE, Guzmán Salazar is on its most wanted list for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, running a continuing criminal enterprise, and money laundering. He has been involved in smuggling large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana since 2008. Additionally, he has coordinated violence including murders, kidnappings, assaults, and battery. Guzmán Salazar, son of the notorious El Chapo, assumed control of his father’s drug networks. He is considered armed and dangerous with a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that the Sinaloa Cartel is one of the oldest and most violent polydrug-trafficking organizations based in Sinaloa, Mexico. It primarily traffics fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and heroin to the United States. The cartel operates in the Golden Triangle region of Sinaloa, Durango, and Chihuahua—a key area for drug production—fueling high levels of violence and criminal networks in northern Mexico.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said that in 2023 there were 316 million people aged 15-64 using drugs globally. Cannabis users numbered 244 million while opioids had 61 million users. Cocaine production reached 3,708 tons with seizures at a record 2,275 tons; users numbered 25 million. These trends indicate expanding illicit markets impacting health and security worldwide.
ICE was established in 2003 by merging investigative and interior enforcement elements of the U.S. Customs Service and Immigration and Naturalization Service. It focuses on upholding immigration law, combating transnational crime, and ensuring national security with over 20,000 personnel across more than 400 offices. Its main components include Homeland Security Investigations for criminal probes; Enforcement and Removal Operations for immigration enforcement; and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor for legal support.
