Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of notorious trafficker Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas.
This high-profile operation is a significant victory for U.S. authorities and could reshape the Mexican criminal landscape.
Zambada, a major figure in Mexico's drug trade and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel with El Chapo, faces multiple charges in the U.S. for trafficking large quantities of drugs, including fentanyl. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is now the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45. In his 30s, Guzman Lopez is one of El Chapo's four sons, known as Los Chapitos, who inherited control of their father's faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. His brother, Ovidio Guzman, was arrested and deported last year.
The arrests occurred after Zambada and Guzman Lopez landed on a private plane in El Paso. Federal agents were already on-site at the Santa Teresa airport, where the individuals were taken into custody without incident.
The U.S. government had placed a $15 million bounty on Zambada and a $5 million reward for Guzman Lopez. The Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations globally, is notorious for its role in fentanyl trafficking.
Zambada is known for his discreet, "old-school" approach to drug trafficking, while El Chapo's sons are characterized by their flashy, violent tactics. Their arrest may destabilize the cartel’s operations in Sinaloa, potentially leading to increased violence and power struggles.
The operation, led by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, is part of ongoing efforts to tackle fentanyl smuggling and the global drug trade. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the commitment to holding cartel leaders accountable for their role in the opioid crisis.
