Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the world’s largest drug lords and leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, has been arrested in El Mayo, Texas. Paso was arrested by U.S. federal agents.
Zambada, 76, founded the criminal group with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently imprisoned in the United States.
Arrested with Zambada on Thursday was Guzman’s son, Joaquín Guzman Lopez, the U.S. Justice Department said.
In February, Zambada was charged by U.S. prosecutors with conspiring to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, a drug more potent than heroin and blamed for the U.S. opioid crisis.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a written statement Thursday night that the two men lead “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.”
“Hermeo and Guzmán Lopez are among a growing number of Sinaloa cartel leaders and associates who are being held accountable by the U.S. Department of Justice,” Garland said.
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our nation faces, and the Department of Justice will not rest until every drug cartel leader, member and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable,” the nation’s top law enforcement official said. Mr Garland added.
U.S. prosecutors say the Sinaloa cartel is the largest drug supplier to the United States.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has offered a reward of up to $15m (£12m) for Zambada’s arrest.
During the 2019 trial of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, his lawyers accused Zambada of bribing “the entire” Mexican government in exchange for living openly without fear of prosecution.
“The truth is, he had no control over anything,” Guzman’s attorney, Jeffrey Leachman, told jurors. “Mayo Zambada did it.”
according to U.S. Department of StateZambada is also the owner of several legal businesses in Mexico, including “a large milk company, a bus line and a hotel,” as well as real estate assets.
In addition to the fentanyl charges, he faces drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, money laundering and organized crime charges in the United States.
U.S. authorities have previously cited fentanyl as the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.
In May, Zambada’s nephew Eliseo Imperial Castro, known as “Cheyo Antrax,” who was also charged in the United States, was killed in an ambush in Mexico.
Zambada is arguably the largest drug lord in the world, and certainly the most influential drug lord in the Americas.
His arrest sent shockwaves through Mexico after he had evaded authorities for decades.
Details of the pair’s arrests are unclear, but they appear to have flown to the United States.
As more information emerges, President Joe Biden’s administration will undoubtedly view this as one of the most important Drug Enforcement Administration operations in years.
