In a dramatic operation, U.S. authorities have arrested two of Mexico’s most infamous drug figures: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán’s son, Joaquín Guzmán López.
The arrests took place on Thursday in El Paso, Texas, and represent a major victory in the ongoing fight against the drug trade, potentially reshaping the Mexican criminal landscape.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a central figure in the history of drug trafficking, co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo. He is now facing multiple serious charges in the U.S., including orchestrating the distribution of fentanyl and other narcotics—a crisis that has surged to become the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45. Zambada, who is believed to be in his 70s, was detained after arriving on a private jet in El Paso.
Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of El Chapo, also faces several federal charges related to his role in continuing the Cartel's operations. Known as one of El Chapo’s four sons, collectively dubbed Los Chapitos or Little Chapos, Guzmán López inherited his father's criminal faction. His brother, Ovidio Guzmán, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. last year, marking another significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel.
The arrest of these high-profile cartel figures could have far-reaching effects on the dynamics of drug trafficking in Mexico and the broader efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic.
* Ynet contributed to this report