On July 26, 2024, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, one of the most notorious figures in the history of the drug war, was finally arrested by US authorities in El Paso, Texas after evading capture for 35 years. He pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in federal court, marking a significant milestone in the fight against drug cartels.
Zambada was lured to the US as part of a sting operation orchestrated by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Zambada’s former partner, El Chapo. This arrest raises questions about the future leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, particularly in light of the violent power struggles that erupted after El Chapo’s arrest and extradition.
Former DEA agent Mike Vigil believes that the “Kingpin strategy” of targeting cartel leaders may not be successful in the long run, as it often leads to internal conflicts and increased violence. There are concerns that power vacuums resulting from Zambada’s arrest could benefit rival cartels like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
The timing of Zambada’s arrest is related to the growing threat of fentanyl, which has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. The US Justice Department is determined to hold cartel leaders accountable for their role in spreading this deadly drug, despite the challenges of shutting down fentanyl smuggling entirely.
Although the capture of El Mayo Zambada provides a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel, experts caution that dismantling cartel leadership is just one part of a larger and ongoing strategy to combat the influence of drug cartels in Mexico and the US.
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