U.S. Arrests Top Sinaloa Cartel Figures in Texas

On Thursday, July 26,2024, the U.S. federal authorities apprehended Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of the notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, in El Paso, Texas. According to the U.S Justice Department, 76-year-old Zambada is a long-time leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. Zambada and Guzmán López were taken into custody after arriving on a private plane. 

Zambada had evaded capture for decades despite a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The BBC reports that In February, Zambada was charged by US prosecutors with a conspiracy to make and distribute fentanyl, a drug more powerful than heroin. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the significance of these arrests in the fight against drug trafficking contributing to the severe opioid crisis in the U.S. The Sinaloa cartel, once led by Zambada and Guzmán, remains a major player in the drug trade.

The arrest follows a complex operation involving Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Mexican authorities were informed of the detentions but were not involved in the operation. Zambada and Guzmán López are expected to face federal charges related to drug trafficking and organized crime.