Mexican law enforcement authorities have said they are investigating possible links between Sinaloa cartel drug traffickers and a federal judge who ordered the release of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, or 'El Chapito.'

Guzmán Salazar is the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, widely considered to be the world’s most powerful drug lord and leader of the massive Sinaloa cartel prior to his detention in earlier this year.

Judge Jose Luna Altamirano revoked a five-year money laundering prison sentence for El Chapito in 2008, saying he had been sentenced based on “subjective, personal assessments and without a legal basis.”

The Federal Judiciary Council has now stated that authorities have opened an investigation looking into Judge José Luna Altamirano's finances and connections to Sinaloa around the time of El Chapito's release, after determining that the judge has made millions of dollars worth of undisclosed bank transfers.

These transfers were not reflected in Luna Altamirano's financial disclosures, nor were the transfers and deposits that several family members also made around the same time.

Luna Altamirano has denied any links with organized crime or having received payments, while admitting that he freed El Chapito for “lack of evidence.”

Despite his denials, Judge Luna Altamirano has been linked to El Chapo, the head of the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel until his detention.

A number of journalists and investigators have called Luna Altamirano “El Chapo’s Judge,” nothing that he is “untouchable” due to his close relation with Genaro Góngora Pimentel, former Chief Judge of Mexico’s Supreme Court.

Authorities believe that El Chapo has six sons. Most of El Chapo’s sons are suspected to be involved in the Sinaloa drug business.

El Chapito has been identified as a possible successor to his father's leadership role with the Sinaloa cartel following El Chapo's capture in February 2014. These reports are not confirmed as of yet. 

Luna Altamirano has not been allowed on the bench since May 2013.