U.S authorities have arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords, along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the notorious Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Their arrest in El Paso, Texas, represents a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, a major player in the trafficking of fentanyl, a substance that has contributed to a surge in overdose deaths among young Americans.
Zambada, 76, has long been a central figure in the drug trade, co-founding the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo.
Following his partner’s extradition to the U.S. in 2017, Zambada continued to operate from the shadows, evading capture for years. Guzman Lopez, in his 30s, is one of El Chapo’s four sons, known collectively as Los Chapitos. Both men face serious charges in the U.S related to their roles in the cartel’s extensive drug trafficking operations.
The arrests unfolded smoothly after Zambada and Guzman Lopez landed in a private plane at the Santa Teresa airport, where federal agents were already poised for action.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that El Chapo’s son ‘lured’ Zambada into boarding the said plane, because he is “blaming him for the capture of his father”.
To Zambada’s knowledge, the plane would fly south in Mexico, but instead, it landed north in El Paso, Texas, where he and El Chapo’s son were arrested.
Guzman Lopez is said to have surrendered to US authorities and turned on Zambada because he ‘blamed Mayo for the capture of his father’, according to a Fox News Correspondent.
The U.S government had offered a staggering $15 million reward for Zambada and $5 million for Guzman Lopez, underscoring their importance in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
As the Sinaloa Cartel has increasingly come under fire from U.S law enforcement, experts warn that the arrests could destabilize the cartel’s operations. Historically, the capture of key figures has led to violent power struggles within the organization, as rival factions vie for control over lucrative drug routes and territories.
U.S Attorney General Merrick Garland reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dismantling the cartel, stating that fentanyl represents the most significant drug threat the nation has faced.
With both Zambada and Guzman Lopez now in custody, authorities are determined to hold accountable those responsible for the ongoing crisis that continues to affect countless communities across the United States.
