On Thursday, July 25, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the world’s largest drug lords from Mexico, was arrested in El Paso, Texas, United States. Also arrested with him was his former partner’s son, Joaquin Guzman Loera, known as “Shorty”.
Ismael Zambada, aged 76, is one of Mexico’s most influential drug traffickers in history, having co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel with “Shorty” Guzman about thirty years ago. Guzman was extradited to the United States in 2017 and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.
Zambada and Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, are facing multiple charges in the US, including trafficking large quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, which has become a leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.
Previously, US authorities had offered a $15 million reward for Zambada and $5 million for Joaquin Guzman Lopez.
The Sinaloa Cartel has become a prime target for US authorities in recent years. The US accuses the cartel of being the largest fentanyl supplier in the country. The cartel is one of Mexico’s two major drug trafficking crime syndicates, shipping drugs to over fifty countries worldwide.
Over the past year, US authorities have brought new charges against Zambada and Guzman’s sons in the US, mainly related to fentanyl smuggling and the flow of precursor chemicals to illegal laboratories operated by their drug trafficking syndicate.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a release that Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez face multiple charges in the US, including leading criminal activities of the drug cartel, including its lethal fentanyl manufacturing and distribution network.
Garland added, “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Department of Justice will not rest until every drug lord, member, and associate that poisons our communities is held accountable.”
Before the Justice Department issued a statement, Reuters had already received related information. On Thursday afternoon, a worker near El Paso International Airport who preferred to remain anonymous told Reuters reporters that he saw a Beechcraft plane land on the runway, where federal agents were waiting.
He said, “Two people got off the plane… and were detained… It seemed like a very calm and orderly thing.”
Joaquin Guzman Lopez is one of Shorty Guzman’s four sons, inheriting his father’s factional power within the Sinaloa Cartel, known as “Los Chapitos”. His brother, Ovidio Guzman, was arrested last year and extradited to the US.
Zambada and Guzman’s sons represent two generations of drug lords with distinct styles. Zambada is known as the “old-school” drug lord, preferring to avoid the limelight, operate in the shadows, and is known for his cunning. In contrast, Shorty’s sons are known for being flashy, more violent, and hot-headed. They have gained prominence within the drug cartel, attracting significant attention.
Since Shorty Guzman’s extradition to the US in 2017, there has been ongoing tension between Zambada and the “Little Shortys.” The arrests of Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez could potentially trigger instability or violence at their stronghold in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa.
Historically, the arrest of key drug cartel leaders has led to violent incidents, as power vacuums can cause significant internal disputes within the organization and with rivals. This arrest is viewed as a significant breakthrough by US authorities that could reshape the criminal landscape in Mexico.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Zambada was lured to Texas by a senior member within the Sinaloa Cartel and subsequently arrested by US agents. Joaquin Guzman Lopez was also on the same plane and was detained upon landing.
An unnamed official from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said Zambada believed he was going to inspect a secret airport in Mexico but was instead taken to El Paso, Texas, where he and Joaquin Guzman Lopez were apprehended.
In a statement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) stated that this arrest operation was part of a joint operation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and their agency.