Son of Mexican drug kingpin's 'right-hand man' indicted

Drug conspiracy charges for son of 'El Chapo' lieutenant

Drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman arrives at Long Island MacArthur airport in New York, U.S., January 19, 2017. The son of one of his top lieutenants has been indicted on drug charges.

The son of a prominent figure in the battle for control of a Mexican drug cartel has been indicted on drug charges in San Diego.

After having surrendered to US Border and Customs Protection authorities last month, Damaso Lopez Serrano appeared in court to face an indictment charging him with conspiracy to import and distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

Mr Serrano’s attorney Michael Littman entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, according to the Associated Press. Mr Littman did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

The case follows the violent fracturing of the Sinaloa cartel since its former leader, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was extradited to the United States in January after his capture in 2016.

The father of Damaso Lopez Serrano, Damaso Lopez Nunez, is said to have battled Mr Guzman’s sons in the ensuing months for control of the cartel, convulsing Sinaloa state. Mexican authorities arrested Mr Nunez in Mexico City in May.

Mr Nunez was one of Mr Guzman’s top lieutenants. Adam Szubin, then-head of the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, in 2013 referred to Mr Nunez as Mr Guzman’s “right-hand man” in moving to prohibit financial dealings with Mr Nunez and freeze his assets. He is believed to have helped Mr Guzman execute one of the brazen prison escapes for which he was legendary.