Sinaloa cartel leaders arrested in Texas: Justice Department's victory
76-year-old Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, leader of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the cartel's co-founder who is currently serving a prison sentence in the US, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, have been arrested in Texas, announced the US Department of Justice.
26 July 2024 07:17
Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, known for avoiding publicity, was wanted by the American justice system for, among other things, the production and smuggling into the US of fentanyl, an opioid drug more potent than heroin that caused the so-called opioid crisis in the US and contributed to the deaths of thousands of addicts, primarily young Americans.
In addition, Zambada is charged with numerous murders, kidnappings, money laundering, and leading organised crime.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set a £12 million reward for information leading to the capture of Zambada.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a released statement that both detainees were leading "one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world."
Garland emphasised that fentanyl "is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable."
Son of "El Chapo" in police custody
Previously, several other top figures of the cartel, including one of Zambada's sons and another of Guzman's sons, were arrested. Co-founder of the cartel Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was sentenced by a US court to life imprisonment in 2019.
As revealed by the US State Department, in addition to his criminal activities, Zambada also engaged in legitimate business activities in Mexico. He owned, among other things, a bus company, a dairy company, a hotel, and several properties.
