Sons of ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán kidnapped in Puerto Vallarta

In August 2016, Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, sons of Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, were kidnapped from a restaurant in the hotel zone of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

An armed command, reportedly linked to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), stormed the La Leche restaurant at approximately 00:11 hours. The group used high-powered rifles to subdue security escorts and abducted six people in total, including the two sons of Guzmán, within 90 seconds. Security footage showed the attackers moving with specialized training.

Following the incident, the Mexican Armed Forces launched search operations in the area. Federal authorities investigated two primary motives: internal conflicts within the Sinaloa Cartel or a direct action stemming from the rivalry with the CJNG.