Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, has been arrested by US federal agents in El Paso, Texas.
Zambada, who co-founded the cartel with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, had evaded authorities for decades.
Guzman's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, was also arrested, according to the US Justice Department as cited by the BBC.
Criminal Activities
Zambada faces numerous charges in the US, including drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, money laundering, and organized crime. In February, US prosecutors charged Zambada with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, a drug that has been a major factor in the US opioid crisis.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland said that Zambada and Guzman Lopez lead "one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world."
"El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable in the United States," Garland said.
He stressed that fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the US has ever faced and promised that the Justice Department will continue to pursue all cartel members responsible for the crisis.
Photo: US State Department via Wikimedia Commons
The Sinaloa cartel is reportedly the largest supplier of drugs to the US, with fentanyl being a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had offered a reward of up to $15 million for Zambada's capture.
Sinaloa Cartel's Influence
During Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's 2019 trial, his lawyers claimed Zambada bribed the entire Mexican government, allowing him to live openly without fear of prosecution.
The US State Department notes that Zambada owns several legitimate businesses in Mexico, including a large milk company, a bus line, a hotel, and various real estate assets.
Zambada, who has avoided capture for decades, is considered the most influential drug lord in the Americas. His arrest, a significant shock in Mexico, reportedly resulted from a months-long operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. According to the Wall Street Journal, Zambada was tricked into boarding a plane by a high-ranking Sinaloa member under the pretense of inspecting secret airfields in Mexico.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas highlighted the Sinaloa cartel's role in manufacturing and trafficking fentanyl into the US, causing widespread devastation.
FBI Director Chris Wray praised the arrests, stating they demonstrate the commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa cartel.
As more details emerge, Zambada's arrest is likely to be seen by President Joe Biden's administration as one of the most significant DEA operations in years.
Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa cartel after the collapse of the Guadalajara cartel in the late 1980s.
While "El Chapo" Guzman was the public face, many believed El Mayo was the true leader, known for his ruthless and innovative strategies. These included early connections with Colombian cartels to supply cocaine and heroin to the US, and more recently, fentanyl.
