Two top leaders of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, were arrested by US authorities on July 26, 2024. The arrests mark a significant victory for US law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to dismantle the powerful drug cartel.
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel and one of its most notorious leaders, was arrested after being tricked into flying to El Paso, Texas under the guise of inspecting real estate in Mexico. He made his initial appearance in federal court on July 29 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of infamous cartel boss Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, also was arrested during the operation. Both men are facing multiple charges for their roles in leading the Sinaloa Cartel's criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks.
The arrests come after years of quiet contact between US law enforcement officers and members of the cartel. Joaquin Guzman Lopez reportedly helped lure Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada onto a plane, exploiting a rift in the cartel.
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada had evaded capture by both Mexican and American officials for decades. He is considered one of the most powerful figures in Mexican organized crime and has been linked to vast amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl trafficking into the US.
The Sinaloa cartel is believed to be responsible for the trafficking of these drugs into the US. The arrests are a significant blow to the organization and demonstrate the determination of US law enforcement agencies to disrupt its operations.
Sources:
- CNN: 'US operation to capture Sinaloa cartel leaders had help of one of captured men: son of El Chapo'
- ABC News: 'Top Sinaloa cartel leaders, including son of El Chapo, taken into US custody: DOJ'
- The New York Times: 'How the U.S. Captured One of Mexico's Biggest Drug Lords'