In a significant crackdown, US authorities have detained two prominent figures in Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This marks a substantial blow to the cartel, renowned for its extensive involvement in drug trafficking, extortion, and corruption.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a 76-year-old drug trafficker and one of the cartel’s founders, was arrested following a strategic operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Zambada, known as “The Man with the Hat,” has been a central figure in the drug trade for over five decades, gaining both admiration and notoriety. His low-profile approach and cunning helped him ascend from a common trafficker to a powerful cartel leader. Despite his high status, there are very few images of him, and he has reportedly undergone surgeries to alter his appearance.
Zambada’s criminal career began in the 1970s when he transitioned from a furniture deliveryman to a trafficker. He initially worked for the Guadalajara cartel and later for the Juárez cartel, becoming close to Amado Carrillo, the “Lord of the Skies.” Over time, Zambada built a vast network of contacts, particularly in Colombia, enhancing his influence and power. His son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, revealed in a prison diary that El Mayo allocated $1 million monthly for bribes to maintain his operations, implicating banks and governments in his network of corruption.
Alongside Zambada, US authorities also detained Joaquín Guzmán López, the 38-year-old son of El Chapo. Guzmán López, also known as “El Güero,” is a member of Los Chapitos, a faction within the Sinaloa cartel composed of El Chapo’s children. Although less known than his brother Ovidio, Guzmán López has held significant roles within the cartel, involving high-level command functions and managing methamphetamine production labs in Sinaloa.
Joaquín Guzmán López and his brother Ovidio inherited substantial profits from narcotics sales after their older brother Edgar’s death. They invested these funds in the purchase of marijuana and cocaine, expanding the cartel’s operations. The US State Department indicated that the brothers were also involved in El Chapo’s 2015 prison escape, which was his second escape following his initial charges in 1993.
The arrest of Zambada and Guzmán López represents an unprecedented move against two of the most wanted drug traffickers. This operation underscores the ongoing efforts of US and Mexican authorities to dismantle powerful drug cartels and address the broader issues of drug trafficking and organized crime.
