Top Mexican drug trafficker “El Mayo” arrested by US feds

In a major victory for US law enforcement, Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, were apprehended on Thursday.

The arrests were executed in El Paso, Texas, following the arrival of the two men on a private plane, where federal agents awaited their arrival with handcuffs.

Zambada, thought to be in his 70s, co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel and is prominently depicted in the popular Netflix series Narcos: Mexico. He is regarded as one of the world’s most influential drug traffickers. His arrest is expected to have significant ramifications for the criminal landscape in the region, and US authorities have identified the Sinaloa Cartel as the largest narco-terror group globally.

“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel,” announced U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

“El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable.”

The Sinaloa Cartel, co-founded by Zambada and El Chapo, has been a major target for US authorities due to its crucial role in the production and distribution of fentanyl – a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, which has led to a dramatic increase in overdose deaths globally and in the US. Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced,” Garland continued.

“The Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable.”

Despite a $15 million reward for his capture, Zambada had evaded authorities for years. Guzman Lopez alsohad a $5 million bounty on his head.

The arrest of El Mayo is likely to have broader implications for Ireland, where the presence of the Sinaloa Cartel has been suspected.

In March of this year, a suspected Sinaloa cartel drug trafficker was detained in County Kerry, with authorities suggesting the Mexican-Irishman might oversee the cartel’s European distribution network.

Last September, Detective Chief Superintendent Seamus Boland of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau indicated that Irish drug gangs were attempting to import fentanyl into Ireland.

“We are satisfied that Irish criminal networks have been considering the supply of fentanyl into the Irish market,” he said.

“This is a very concerning development, as fentanyl is not just significant to opioid users, but is a risk to all drug consumers, as cartels can add fentanyl to other drugs to increase addiction, thereby increasing the customer base leading to greater profits and drug deaths.”