In a development concerning the ongoing war against international drug trafficking, U.S. authorities have apprehended two high-ranking members of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of the infamous ‘El Chapo‘ Guzman, were arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrests, with Attorney General Merrick B. Garland describing the Sinaloa Cartel as “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.” Both men are to be charged with crimes related to leading the cartel’s criminal operations, particularly its fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks, which have been responsible for a significant portion of the deadly opioid crisis in the United States.
‘El Mayo’ Zambada, who is in his 70s, is a veteran figure in the Mexican drug trade, known for his low-profile approach and shrewd operations. He has managed to evade capture for decades, becoming one of the most wanted fugitives in the world. Guzman Lopez, in his 30s, represents a newer generation of cartel leadership, part of the group known as “Los Chapitos” who took over after their father’s extradition to the U.S. in 2017.
The arrests occurred after the suspects landed in a private plane near El Paso. According to eyewitness accounts, federal agents were already waiting at the Santa Teresa airport when a Beechcraft King Air landed. The suspects were reportedly taken into custody calmly. Prior to their arrests, the U.S. officials had placed substantial bounties on both men – $15 million for ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and $5 million for Guzman Lopez.
This operation is part of a broader U.S. effort to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel’s leadership. Other high-profile arrests include El Chapo himself, who is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison, and another of his sons, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, who was arrested last year and subsequently extradited to the United States.
The Justice Department emphasized the significance of these arrests in combating the fentanyl crisis in the United States. Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, and authorities accuse the Sinaloa Cartel of being the largest supplier of this deadly drug to the U.S. The cartel’s sophisticated supply chains and ability to source heavily regulated chemicals have allowed them to dominate the global narcotics trade for decades.
Experts warn that these high-profile arrests could potentially lead to instability or violence within the cartel’s territories, particularly in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa. The power vacuum created by the removal of key leaders often triggers infighting within criminal organizations and conflicts with rival groups. Vanda Felbab-Brown, a researcher at Washington’s Brookings Institution, noted that this possibility “looms very large.”
The arrests of ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and Guzman Lopez highlight the generational divide within the cartel. Zambada, known as an “old-school” narco, has always preferred to operate in the shadows, avoiding attention. In contrast, El Chapo’s sons have gained a reputation for their flashy lifestyle and more aggressive tactics. This difference in approach has reportedly led to tensions within the organization since El Chapo’s extradition.
As U.S. authorities continue their crackdown on the Sinaloa Cartel, the focus remains on disrupting the sophisticated drug supply chains and chemical procurement networks that have allowed the organization to maintain its dominance. Recent investigations have revealed the ease with which fentanyl precursor chemicals can be purchased online from Chinese sellers.
