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They were arrested in Texas, US attorney General Merrick said, calling the cartel “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.””Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartel’s criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks,” he added.
A Narco thriller come to life
On Thursday evening, a Beechcraft King Air turboprop landed at a small municipal airport outside El Paso. Stepping off the plane was one of Mexico‘s most wanted men: Ismael Zambada García, also known as El Mayo. For decades, he had successfully eluded capture by both Mexican and American officials, despite a $15 million US bounty on his head. Living a life of luxurious simplicity in the mountains of Sinaloa, he had managed to stay one step ahead—until now.
The cross-border flight that led to his capture was orchestrated by an unlikely betrayer: Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of Zambada García’s former partner in crime, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. According to US officials, Guzmán López tricked Zambada García into boarding the plane under the guise of inspecting real estate in northern Mexico. Unbeknownst to El Mayo, the plane was actually bound for Texas, where American agents were waiting.
Betrayal by a close ally
Joaquín Guzmán López’s betrayal came as a shock. He and his brothers had inherited their father’s faction of the cartel, and tensions had been simmering between them and Zambada García since El Chapo’s extradition to the US in 2017. The younger Guzmán’s actions may have been motivated by a desire to secure a favourable deal for himself and his brother, Ovidio Guzmán López, who is already in US custody.
For years, American law enforcement maintained a quiet back channel with Guzmán López, which increased in frequency after Ovidio’s extradition to Chicago last September. This relationship eventually culminated in Guzmán López delivering Zambada García to the US, a significant coup for American prosecutors.
A capture years in the making
The arrest of Zambada García marks one of the biggest blows to organised crime in recent years. It also raises numerous questions about the role of US law enforcement and the possible involvement of Mexican officials. Mexico’s Secretary of Security, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, confirmed that the Mexican government played no role in the capture and only learned of the event when the US Embassy announced that Zambada García and Guzmán López were in custody.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico demanded a full report from the US on the operation, stressing the need for respect between the two nations.
Pleading not guilty
At an initial court appearance in Texas on Friday, Zambada García, believed to be in his 70s and in a wheelchair, entered a plea of not guilty to drug conspiracy charges. He waived his right to be present at an arraignment next Wednesday, with his case overseen by US District Judge Kathleen Cardone.
The Texas charges to which Zambada pleaded not guilty included continuing criminal enterprise, narcotics importation conspiracy, and money laundering.
The indictment, filed in April 2012, alleges that under Zambada and El Chapo’s leadership, cartel members kidnapped a Texas resident in 2009 over a lost marijuana shipment, and a US citizen with his family in 2010. Both were murdered, and their bodies were found in Juarez, Mexico, according to prosecutors.
Both Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of El Chapo, face multiple charges in the United States for funneling huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to US streets. Fentanyl overdoses have surged to become the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.
Contrasting styles
The Sinaloa Cartel traffics drugs to over 50 countries and is one of Mexico’s two most powerful crime groups, according to US authorities.
Zambada and El Chapo’s sons represent different generations within the cartel, each with their own style. Zambada is known as an “old-school” operator who stays out of the spotlight and works behind the scenes. In contrast, El Chapo’s sons are more flamboyant, drawing attention as they rose through the cartel ranks. They are also seen as more violent and impulsive compared to Zambada’s calculated approach.
Implications and repercussions
The capture of Zambada García could have significant repercussions for the criminal landscape in Mexico. Experts predict potential internal conflict within the Sinaloa Cartel, possibly leading to increased violence as rival factions vie for control. The Mexican military has already deployed 200 Special Forces members to Culiacán, the cartel’s stronghold, to maintain order.
Moreover, Zambada García’s cooperation with US authorities could expose corruption within Mexico, further straining relations between the two countries. While the arrests of key cartel figures might not immediately disrupt drug trafficking operations, they represent a substantial victory for US law enforcement in their ongoing battle against narcotics smuggling.
In recent years, the Sinaloa Cartel has become a primary target for US authorities, accused of being the largest supplier of fentanyl to the US The cartel’s influence extends globally, trafficking drugs to over 50 countries. The arrest of El Mayo Zambada, a “godfather” figure in the underworld, signals a critical moment in the fight against organised crime.
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