U.S. federal agents successfully arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of infamous drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The arrests took place in El Paso, Texas.
According to a U.S. law enforcement official, Zambada was lured into flying to the United States under the false belief he was traveling to inspect property near the U.S.-Mexico border. The plan exploited internal rifts within the Sinaloa Cartel, with Guzmán López reportedly aiding in Zambada’s capture. Upon their arrival in El Paso, Zambada and Guzmán López were immediately taken into custody by FBI agents.
Zambada, 76, appeared in federal court in El Paso on Friday morning, pleading not guilty to multiple charges, including continuing criminal enterprise and money laundering. He is being held without bond, with a hearing set for July 31. Guzmán López, 38, also faces several charges related to leading the cartel’s criminal operations, particularly in manufacturing and trafficking deadly fentanyl.
El Chapo’s boss “El Mayo” was caught in El Paso, Texas. He was the world’s most wanted man with a $15,000,000 bounty on his head. Police say he was the most lowkey drug boss of all time. Worth $10B pic.twitter.com/M1XN8mlNxu
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) July 26, 2024
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada has been a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel for decades, co-founding the organization with “El Chapo.” Known for his strategic acumen, Zambada managed to evade capture despite being a top target for U.S. authorities, who had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Joaquín Guzmán López, one of “El Chapo’s” sons, continued to play a significant role in the cartel’s operations following his father’s extradition and life sentence in a U.S. prison.
The arrests are expected to create a significant power vacuum within the Sinaloa Cartel, potentially leading to internal conflicts and restructuring. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that these arrests strike “at the heart of the cartel responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast.”
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged the arrests and called for transparency from the U.S. government regarding the operation. He noted that Mexico was not involved in the sting but hailed the arrests as important progress in the fight against drug trafficking. Mexican officials were informed of the operation via a phone call from the U.S. Embassy.
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