One of jailed drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s sons lavished locals with pricey gifts at a massive Christmas bash in Sinaloa, the Mexican province terrorized by the family’s violent drug cartel, according to reports.
An Instagram account attributed to Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, 36, posted videos and photos of the boisterous outdoor holiday party, complete with a giveaway of 10 new cars and SUVs, free food and dozens of other gifts, according to a report Thursday in the Daily Mail.
The images show several brand new Honda Civics — which retail for $18,000 in Mexico — with giant Christmas bows on top, and families milling about as a live band performs on stage, the outlet reports.
Another photograph shows children standing alongside a wall of boxes and gifts.
Photos also show bags full of goods, with the message, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Best wishes, Ivan Archivaldo,” the Mexican newspaper El Heraldo reported.
The Instagram posts, which are no longer online, include a video where Jose Feliciano’s holiday classic, “Feliz Navidad,” can be heard playing in the background, and another where kids are heard shouting in unison, “Thank you Don Ivan,” the Mail reported.
Ivan is one of El Chapo’s six sons, who authorities said has continued to help run the Sinaloa cartel. His father was extradited to the US and sentenced to life in prison in Brooklyn Federal court in February. He is now being held at a supermax prison in Colorado.
During his reign over the cartel, El Chapo followed the practice of earlier high-profile drug lords, including the late notorious Colombian narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar, with spurts of generosity for locals, including community celebrations at Christmas time.
Other Mexican cartels continue the practice today, Spanish-language network Univision reported.
A deadly gun battle took place in Culiacan in October after authorities tried to arrest another one of the drug lord’s sons, Ovidio Guzman Lopez. The cartel quickly launched an assault against the National Guard, government offices and the city, leaving 13 people dead.
Ovidio was ultimately released to stop the bloodshed.
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