Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Captured: A Major Breakthrough in the Fight Against Drug Trafficking After 35 Years on the Run

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada: How US Caught Drug Kingpin After 35 Years

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, one of the most infamous figures in the history of the drug trade, has been apprehended after managing to evade capture for over three decades. The 76-year-old Zambada, who co-founded the powerful Sinaloa Cartel with Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, was arrested in El Paso, Texas, and has already pleaded not guilty to various federal charges.

Zambada’s capture was the result of a highly orchestrated sting operation spearheaded by none other than the son of his former partner. Joaquin Guzman Lopez, an heir to the Guzman legacy, was taken into custody alongside Zambada, having misled him into thinking they were conducting business regarding potential properties in northern Mexico for clandestine airstrips.

A Life of Evasion

In a revealing interview conducted by the late Mexican journalist Julio Scherer García in 2010, Zambada expressed his deep fear of imprisonment. He indicated that the thought of being jailed terrified him to the extent that he pondered the possibility of taking his own life. Despite this personal admission, Zambada managed to successfully navigate law enforcement’s efforts for 35 years before being caught in an elaborate trap.

Mike Vigil, a former DEA agent, suggested that it was surprising that a man so cautious throughout his life fell victim to such a ruse at his age. Vigil noted, “He is in his 70s, in poor health and already said that prison was his greatest fear.” This distress highlights the complexity of capturing figures like Zambada, who have remained elusive in the public eye for decades.

The Future of the Sinaloa Cartel

The arrest of Zambada raises significant questions about the future dynamics of the Sinaloa Cartel, particularly regarding who will take charge in the wake of his capture and El Chapo’s previous imprisonment and extradition to the US in 2016. Following Guzman’s arrest, the cartel witnessed intense internal conflict leading to a brutal struggle for territorial control among various factions.

In 2019, the chaos reached a tipping point when Ovidio Guzman Lopez, El Chapo’s son, was arrested. The situation escalated into violent confrontations, known as the Culiacanazo, where armed gunmen launched attacks on civilian and governmental targets, forcing authorities to release Ovidio to restore order temporarily. Experts believe that a similar outbreak of violence might not occur this time due to the cartel’s array of potential successors, including El Chapo’s brother.

Vigil posited that past strategies targeting individual cartel leaders often resulted in greater bloodshed without achieving lasting peace. He warned that any internal unrest could benefit rivals such as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Timing of the Operation

The timing behind Zambada’s arrest is noteworthy, as it executed after months of painstaking planning, but there were elements of opportunism involved as well. Once the various details began to fall into place, US authorities appeared to seize the moment, believing that the potential gains outweighed the risks.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized during the announcement of the arrests that fentanyl poses a grave threat to America. “Fentanyl is the deadliest threat our country has ever faced,” he declared, highlighting the urgency of dismantling the cartels producing the drug. Fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, a staggering reality that has garnered attention from the Biden administration, especially in an election year.

Both Zambada and Los Chapitos—El Chapo’s sons—have profited enormously from the fentanyl trade, given the drug’s low production costs and ease of transport compared to traditional narcotics. However, experts assert that fully eliminating the flow of fentanyl is virtually impossible due to its profitability for the cartels.

Table of Drug Cartel Leaders and Their Fates

The recent capture of Zambada, although a significant accomplishment in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking, marks yet another volatile chapter in Mexico’s drug war, where the consequences of leadership transitions can reverberate through communities and regions.