New Mexico Law Enforcement Arrests Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder

In a significant victory for U.S. law enforcement, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa drug cartel, was arrested in New Mexico on Thursday. Zambada, a notorious drug kingpin in his late 70s, was reportedly apprehended at the Santa Teresa International Jetport, a location perilously close to the El Paso, Texas border.

• Zambada, alongside drug trafficker Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of the infamous Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, surrendered to U.S. authorities at the small airport.

• Zambada has evaded capture for decades, orchestrating the cartel's operations since its inception with El Chapo, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the U.S. in 2019.

• The Sinaloa cartel is notoriously known for flooding U.S. streets with deadly drugs, including fentanyl, contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis.

Both Zambada and Guzman Lopez face extensive charges in the U.S. for their leadership roles in the cartel, which has been responsible for pumping billions of dollars worth of drugs into American communities. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland labeled the Sinaloa cartel as “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world.”

In a statement, Garland highlighted that this arrest adds to the growing list of cartel leaders now held accountable by U.S. justice, including:

• Joaquin Guzman Loera, or “El Chapo”

• Ovidio Guzman Lopez, another son of El Chapo and alleged cartel leader

• Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, known as “El Nini,” the cartel’s alleged lead hitman

The Department of Justice has emphasized its unwavering commitment to eradicating the scourge of fentanyl, which Garland described as “the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced.” The DOJ continues its relentless pursuit of cartel leaders, members, and associates responsible for the widespread poisoning of American communities.

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