EL PASO, Texas. U.S. authorities have arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a prominent Mexican drug lord, and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of notorious drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in El Paso, Texas.
The arrests on Thursday mark a major victory for U.S. law enforcement in their ongoing battle against drug trafficking and may significantly impact the Mexican criminal landscape. Zambada, one of the most influential figures in drug trafficking history and a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo, is in his 70s. His co-defendant, Guzmán López, is in his 30s and is one of El Chapo’s four sons, collectively known as Los Chapitos.
The two men were apprehended after arriving in El Paso on a private plane. Guzmán López reportedly orchestrated the operation to lure Zambada into U.S. custody, according to three U.S. officials who spoke anonymously.
U.S. President Joe Biden praised the arrests, stating, “Too many of our citizens have lost their lives to the scourge of fentanyl. Too many families have been broken and are suffering because of this destructive drug.”
The charges against Zambada and Guzmán López involve their leadership roles in the cartel’s extensive fentanyl trafficking network. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the arrests target the leadership of a cartel heavily implicated in the U.S. fentanyl crisis, stating, “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable.”
The arrests were carried out by a joint operation involving the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Zambada had a $15 million reward for his capture, while Guzmán López’s bounty was set at $5 million.
At Santa Teresa airport near El Paso, a witness described the scene: “Two individuals got off the plane… and were calmly taken into custody,” noting that the operation appeared well-coordinated and controlled.
The Sinaloa Cartel, known for its sophisticated drug trafficking operations across more than 50 countries, has become a primary target for U.S. authorities. Zambada and El Chapo’s sons represent different generations of drug traffickers, with Zambada being a more discreet, “old-school” operator compared to the flashy and violent nature of El Chapo’s sons.
The arrests of these two key figures may lead to instability within the cartel’s ranks, potentially sparking further violence in Sinaloa. The Mexican government was notified of the detentions but did not participate in the operation, according to Mexico’s Security Minister Rosa Rodriguez.
The broader implications of this operation, including potential cartel infighting and the impact on fentanyl trafficking, will be closely monitored in the coming months.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
