Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada arrested by US Agents
In a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world’s most powerful drug lords, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, was arrested by US federal agents in El Paso, Texas.
Zambada, 76, who co-founded the notorious cartel with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was detained alongside Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, according to the US Justice Department.
The arrests occurred on Thursday, though specifics remain unclear. Reports suggest Zambada and Guzman Lopez were deceived into flying into the United States.
The Wall Street Journal detailed a months-long operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, in which a high-ranking Sinaloa member convinced Zambada to board a plane under the guise of inspecting clandestine airfields in Mexico.
Instead, the plane flew to El Paso, where both men were apprehended.
Guzman Lopez reportedly surrendered and cooperated with US authorities, blaming Zambada for his father’s capture.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland described the Sinaloa cartel as “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organisations in the world,” emphasizing the Justice Department’s commitment to holding cartel leaders accountable.
Zambada was previously charged in February by US prosecutors with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, a potent drug central to the US opioid crisis.
The Sinaloa cartel is noted as the primary drug supplier to the US, with fentanyl cited as the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
