Joaquín Guzmán López, known as "El Güero" and son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges during a hearing on July 30, 2024, in the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago. Guzmán López, who was arrested on July 25 during an operation that also led to the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, faces charges including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana trafficking, as well as money laundering and possession of firearms for drug trafficking.

Guzmán López, along with his brothers, known as Los Chapitos, is accused of leading a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel following his father's extradition to the United States in 2017. He appeared before Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. His attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, denied the kidnapping allegations involving Zambada, stating that Guzmán López is not facing such charges. The defense also questioned the account provided by U.S. officials regarding Zambada's forced relocation.

El Chapo Guzmán, convicted of murder and drug trafficking in 2019, is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado. Guzmán López, around 30 years old, is scheduled to return to court on September 30, 2024. Zambada pleaded not guilty in a separate hearing in El Paso, Texas.