Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada García, a prominent figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, was detained today by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, confirmed the U.S. Department of Justice The arrest, which took place at an airport in El Paso, Texas, follows a meticulous investigation that has been ongoing for decades.
He was with Joaquín Guzmán López, one of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán Loera's children. El Mayo and El Chapo were co-leaders of the sanguinary Cartel de Sinaloa.
"The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
Who is El Mayo Zambada?
Zambada, known as the "capo de capos," has evaded capture despite being a central figure in the global drug trade since the 1970s. Unlike his counterpart, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, Zambada has managed to avoid incarceration until now, living a life shrouded in secrecy and eluding law enforcement.
Ismael Zambada García has been involved in drug trafficking from Mexico since the 1970s and co-led the Sinaloa Cartel for over 30 years with Guzmán until his incarceration. According to several reports, El Mayo controls much of the heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and fentanyl production in Mexico. His networks are also involved in cocaine trafficking from South America.
According to the DEA's 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment, Zambada's health has deteriorated in the last few years. The document details that the Sinaloa Cartel's influence spans all U.S. states, underscoring the significance of Zambada's arrest.
Anabel Hernández, a journalist renowned for her coverage of the Mexican drug trade, highlights in her latest book that Zambada, now believed to be 76 years old, has been dealing with health issues, including controlled diabetes and knee inflammation. Former DEA International Operations Director Mike Vigil also noted in 2020 that Zambada suffers from diabetes and gout, which may have impacted his ability to continue evading capture.
The DEA had placed a $15 million reward for information leading to the capture of "El Mayo" Zambada.
This high-profile arrest marks a significant milestone in the fight against drug trafficking, potentially reshaping the power dynamics within the Sinaloa Cartel and the broader narcotics landscape. The detention of Zambada, often regarded as one of the most elusive and powerful drug lords, is a testament to the relentless efforts of U.S. law enforcement agencies in combating organized crime.
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