Son of Mexican cartel leader pleads not guilty to drug and laundering charges

Ovidio Guzman Lopez being detained in Culiacan, Mexico, in October 2019. Mexico extradited Guzman Lopez, a son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, to the US on Friday (CEPROPIE via AP/PA)

Ovidio Guzman Lopez, the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering and other charges during his first court appearance since being extradited to the US from Mexico.

Guzman Lopez was extradited on Friday, five months after US prosecutors unsealed sprawling indictments against him and his brothers, known collectively as the “Chapitos”.