US arrests Mexican drug cartels, 'El Mayo', El Chapo's son in Texas

The United States authorities have arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, in El Paso, Texas. The arrests mark a significant victory in the ongoing battle against the powerful Sinaloa Cartel.

Zambada, one of the most influential traffickers in Mexico’s history, co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel with El Chapo, who is currently serving a life sentence in the U.S. Zambada, believed to be in his 70s, and Guzman Lopez, in his 30s, were detained after landing in a private plane in the El Paso area, according to two U.S. officials.

Both men face multiple charges in the U.S., primarily for their roles in smuggling vast quantities of drugs, including fentanyl, which has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. Zambada had a $15 million reward for his capture, while Guzman Lopez had a $5 million bounty on his head.

The Sinaloa Cartel, currently the largest supplier of fentanyl to the U.S., is expected to face significant internal turmoil following these arrests. Zambada and El Chapo’s sons have had a fractious relationship, and their detentions could trigger instability or violence in Sinaloa, the cartel’s stronghold.

This operation was part of a joint effort by the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The arrests come as U.S. authorities have launched fresh indictments against Zambada and Guzman’s sons over the past year, focusing on fentanyl smuggling and the flow of precursor chemicals to their illicit labs.

The Sinaloa Cartel traffics drugs to over 50 countries and operates sophisticated supply chains to move drugs and source regulated chemicals. A recent Reuters investigation revealed how easy it is to buy fentanyl precursor chemicals online from Chinese sellers, highlighting the global reach of the cartel.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The calm manner in which the arrests were conducted suggests a well-coordinated effort, but the repercussions of taking down such high-profile figures in the drug trade remain to be seen. As authorities continue to dismantle the cartel’s operations, the world watches to see how this will impact the ongoing war on drugs.