Daniel Weisz Argomedo, John P. Sullivan, and Robert J. Bunker
Small Wars Journal
26 July 2024
On Thursday, 25 July 2024, American law enforcement officials arrested Ismael, ‘El Mayo,’ Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán López in El Paso, Texas. The two men are prominent leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel and were detained in a private airfield. Both suspects, and their criminal cartel are allegedly linked to drug trafficking—especially trade in fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Joaquín Guzmán López is the son of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as ‘El Chapo’ and is said to have taken up a leadership role along with his three other brothers after their father's arrest. ‘El Mayo‘ Zambada (aka MZ), on the other hand, has been involved in organized crime since the 1980s, working alongside Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel Angel Félix Gallardo. He would also work alongside Amado Carrillo Fuentes and would outlast many of his colleagues, including Beltrán Leyva, ‘El Chapo’ and many more. He was known for keeping a low profile and was able to evade capture by the authorities for decades and an assassination attempt by rival factions within the Sinaloa Cartel. Both men are facing multiple charges for leading the Sinaloa Cartel’s criminal operations, including the trafficking and manufacturing of fentanyl. Multiple news sources state that Zambada was tricked by Guzmán, who convinced Zambada to get into a private plane to look at some clandestine airfields by the Mexican border but was instead led to an airfield in El Paso, Texas, where Federal forces awaited his arrival.[1]
Original article link: https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/mexico-cartel-strategic-note-no-36-ismael-zambada-garcia-and-joaquin-guzman-lopez-arrested
PDF copy:
Comments