Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a top drug lord, was arrested in El Paso, Texas. He led the Sinaloa cartel, a major crime group in Mexico. Zambada, 76, started the cartel with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Guzman is now in US prison.
El Mayo Zambada faced charges of making and selling fentanyl. This drug is more dangerous than heroin. Fentanyl has caused many deaths in the US. The details of his arrest are not clear. It seems he flew into the US.
Reports say El Mayo Zambada was tricked into boarding a plane. He thought he was checking airfields in Mexico. Instead, the plane went to El Paso. Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, was also arrested. He helped trick Zambada.
Guzman Lopez turned against Zambada. He blamed Zambada for his father’s capture. US Attorney General Merrick Garland called the cartel very dangerous. He promised to keep fighting against drug traffickers.
The Sinaloa cartel is a major drug supplier to the US. Fentanyl is the top cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. The DEA had a $15 million reward for Zambada’s capture.
Zambada Faces Drug Trafficking and Murder Charges
During El Chapo’s trial, his lawyers said Zambada bribed the Mexican government. They claimed Zambada was the real leader of the cartel. The US state department said Zambada owns several businesses in Mexico.
Zambada faces charges including drug trafficking and murder. His nephew, Eliseo Imperial Castro, was killed in Mexico. Castro was also wanted by the US.
Zambada was a top drug lord and very influential in the Americas. His arrest surprised many in Mexico. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the cartel caused many deaths in the US.
FBI Director Chris Wray called the arrests a big success. They show the commitment to stopping criminal groups. Zambada co-founded the cartel after the Guadalajara cartel fell apart in the 1980s.
Though El Chapo was the public face, Zambada was the real leader. He made early deals with Colombian cartels to bring drugs into the US. His leadership lasted through many challenges.
His long reign ended in El Paso, Texas. This city has struggled with fentanyl issues, much of it smuggled by his cartel.
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