Leader of Sinaloa Cartel Arrested in Texas
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the world’s most notorious drug lords and the leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, has been captured by US federal agents in El Paso, Texas. Zambada, 76, co-founded the infamous criminal organization with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence in the US.
Alongside Zambada, authorities also apprehended Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, according to the US Justice Department. Zambada had been charged in February by US prosecutors with conspiring to produce and distribute fentanyl, a potent drug linked to the US opioid crisis.
In a statement on Thursday evening, US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the significance of the arrests, describing the Sinaloa cartel as “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.” He declared that the Justice Department would persist in its efforts to hold every cartel leader and associate accountable for the deadly fentanyl epidemic plaguing the US.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had offered a reward of up to $15 million (£12 million) for Zambada’s capture. During El Chapo Guzman’s 2019 trial, his defense argued that Zambada had been bribing the entire Mexican government to operate without fear of prosecution, painting him as the true power behind the cartel.
The US State Department notes that Zambada owns several legitimate businesses in Mexico, including a large dairy company, a bus line, and a hotel, as well as various real estate assets. Besides fentanyl-related charges, he faces numerous other charges in the US, including drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, money laundering, and organized crime.
Fentanyl remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, according to US authorities. In May, Zambada’s nephew, Eliseo Imperial Castro, known as “Cheyo Antrax,” was killed in an ambush in Mexico. He was also wanted by US authorities.
Zambada is considered one of the most influential drug lords globally, especially in the Americas. His arrest, after decades of evading authorities, has shocked Mexico. While details of the arrests are still emerging, it appears that Zambada and Guzman Lopez flew into the United States.
This significant operation by the DEA is likely to be highlighted by President Joe Biden’s administration. Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa cartel following the collapse of the Guadalajara cartel in the late 1980s. While El Chapo was the public face of the organization, many believed El Mayo was the true leader.
Known for his ruthlessness and innovation, Zambada established early connections with Colombian cartels to flood the US with cocaine and heroin, and more recently, fentanyl. His leadership has endured despite changes in US and Mexican administrations, relentless anti-drug campaigns, and constant threats from rival drug traffickers.
However, Zambada’s long run of resilience has come to an end in El Paso, Texas—a city heavily impacted by the influx of fentanyl smuggled by his cartel.
