Major Arrests in Texas
In a significant victory against organized crime, U.S. authorities have apprehended two top leaders of Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, were arrested in Texas on July 25, according to a statement from the U.S. Justice Department.
High-profile charges
The Justice Department highlighted that both men face multiple charges for leading the cartel’s criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks. “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,” the statement read. Notably, Washington had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Zambada’s arrest.
Impact on the Sinaloa cartel
These arrests deliver another major blow to the Sinaloa cartel, already reeling from the incarceration of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in a U.S. maximum security prison since his conviction in 2019. Following El Chapo’s capture, control of the cartel shifted to his sons, known as the “Chapitos.” One of his sons, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, was extradited to the U.S. in 2023 to face narcotics charges.
Sinaloa’s influence
The Sinaloa cartel is known for its deep connections within Mexico’s federal police and military, maintaining its dominance through strategic bribery, according to the think tank InSight Crime. Zambada, who has evaded capture for decades and never served time in prison, was noted for his low profile and focus on business over violence. InSight Crime stated, “He is one of the few old-guard bosses who has managed to evade justice throughout his criminal career.”
The arrests underscore the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations and bring its leaders to justice.