Arrests made at local airport in Texas after their plane landed from Mexico.
Ismael El Mayo Zambada is a long-time leader known for business side of drug trafficking. Avoided violent conflicts.
Joaquín Guzmán López started as enforcer, became major player in Juarez cartel, later developed partnerships with Colombian traffickers.
Sinaloa cartel responsible for trafficking large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl into US and Europe. Arrests mark significant blow to organization's leadership.
Two leaders of Sinaloa cartel, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, arrested in Texas on July 25, 2024.
Two prominent leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, were arrested by US authorities on July 25, 2024. El Mayo is a long-time leader of the powerful Sinaloa cartel and has been known for his role in the business side of drug trafficking while avoiding violent cartel conflicts.
Zambada started as an enforcer in the 1970s and became a major player in the Juarez cartel by the early 1990s. He later developed partnerships with Colombian traffickers and broke off from the Juarez cartel to become one of the most powerful figures in Mexican organized crime.
Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of another infamous cartel leader, was also arrested alongside Zambada. The arrests were made at a local airport in Texas after their plane landed from Mexico.
El Mayo has been pursued by US authorities for years and is known for his low profile. It is unclear why he decided to travel with Guzmán López or what led to their arrests.
The Sinaloa cartel, one of the most dominant criminal groups in Mexico, has been responsible for trafficking large quantities of cocaine and fentanyl into the United States and Europe. The arrests mark a significant blow to the organization's leadership.
Ismael Zambada García, known as El Mayo, is a septuagenarian kingpin and one of the most powerful criminal figures in Mexico.
Joaquín Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons, was arrested along with Ismael Zambada García.
Accuracy
][Ismael Zambada García is a septuagenarian kingpin and one of the most powerful criminal figures in Mexico.][][Ismael Zambada García helped found the Sinaloa cartel with El Chapo decades ago and remained at large after El Chapo’s extradition to the US.]
][Joaquín Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons, was arrested along with Ismael Zambada García.][][Joaquín Guzmán López had persuaded Ismael Zambada García to join him on a flight under the false pretense of looking at real estate.]
Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, was arrested by US authorities in Texas on Thursday.
Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of another infamous cartel leader, was also arrested with Zambada.
Zambada is known for concentrating on the business side of trafficking and avoiding gruesome cartel violence that would draw attention.
Little is known about Zambada’s early life, but he got his start as an enforcer in the 1970s and became a major player in the Juarez cartel by the early 1990s.
Zambada developed partnerships with Colombian traffickers and broke off from the Juarez cartel to become so powerful that he avoided a turf war.
