US federal agents have arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the most influential drug lords and leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, in El Paso, Texas. Zambada, 76, co-founded the cartel with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently imprisoned in the US. Alongside Zambada, authorities also apprehended Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez.
In February, Zambada was charged with conspiring to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, a potent drug contributing to the US opioid crisis. US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the men lead “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world” and emphasized that the Justice Department is committed to holding accountable all those involved in poisoning communities with fentanyl.
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The Sinaloa cartel, identified as the largest drug supplier to the US, is implicated in the opioid crisis, with fentanyl being the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had been offering a reward of up to $15 million (£12 million) for the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. During Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s 2019 trial, Guzman’s lawyers accused Zambada of bribing the entire Mexican government to live without fear of prosecution. Guzman’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, claimed that Zambada, not Guzman, was in control.
The US State Department also reported that Zambada owns several legitimate businesses in Mexico, including a large dairy company, a bus service, a hotel, and various real estate holdings. In addition to fentanyl charges, Zambada faces accusations in the US for drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, money laundering, and organized crime.
In May, Zambada’s nephew, Eliseo Imperial Castro, also known as “Cheyo Antrax,” was killed in a Mexico ambush and was wanted by US authorities. Zambada, considered one of the world’s largest and most influential drug lords, had evaded capture for decades, making his arrest surprising to many in Mexico.
Details about the arrests are still emerging, but it appears Zambada and Guzman Lopez were brought into the US. According to reports, Zambada was deceived into boarding a plane by a high-ranking Sinaloa cartel member after a months-long operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. He reportedly thought he was inspecting secret airfields in Mexico.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated that the Sinaloa cartel was instrumental in fentanyl production and trafficking, which has significantly impacted American communities. FBI Director Chris Wray emphasized that the arrests reflect the FBI’s dedication to dismantling violent criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel.
As more details emerge, Zambada’s arrest is likely to be highlighted by President Joe Biden’s administration as a major DEA achievement in recent years. Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa cartel after the Guadalajara cartel’s collapse in the late 1980s.
Although Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was the more notorious public figure, many believed El Mayo was the true leader of the cartel. Zambada was known for his ruthlessness and innovation, establishing early connections with Colombian cartels to flood the US with cocaine, heroin, and later, fentanyl.
His leadership persisted through various presidential administrations in both Mexico and the US, despite numerous anti-drug campaigns and efforts by rival drug organizations to bring him down. His remarkable resilience in the dangerous drug underworld seems to have finally ended in El Paso, Texas, a city severely affected by the influx of fentanyl smuggled by his cartel.
