Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Arrested After 35 Years on the Run: Implications for the Sinaloa Cartel and the Fentanyl Crisis

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada: Arrest After Decades on the Run

By Will Grant

BBC Mexico Correspondent

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, a pivotal figure in the drug trafficking world, has made headlines following his recent arrest after evading capture for 35 years. As a co-founder of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel alongside Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman, Zambada has long been associated with the severe impact of the global drug trade.

The Arrest

Zambada was apprehended in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday and has since pleaded not guilty to multiple federal charges. His capture was the result of a complex sting operation orchestrated by none other than the son of his former partner, Joaquin Guzman Lopez.

Lopez, aiming to lead Zambada into a trap, successfully convinced the drug lord he was traveling to look at potential sites for secret airstrips in northern Mexico.

A Life of Evasion

In a revealing interview with late journalist Julio Scherer García in 2010, Zambada expressed his profound fear of imprisonment. “The idea of being jailed gives me panic,” he remarked, indicating a willingness to contemplate extreme measures to avoid capture. Yet, despite his careful avoidance tactics throughout his 76 years, Zambada fell victim to the elaborate scheme that ultimately led to his downfall.

Implications for the Sinaloa Cartel

The implications of Zambada’s arrest are monumental. Following the 2016 capture of El Chapo, rival factions within the cartel engaged in violent conflict for control of territories, resulting in significant bloodshed. The response from Sinaloa Cartel soldiers during the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez in 2019 serves as a grim reminder of potential future violence; armed gunmen launched attacks on civilians and military targets, leading authorities to return Guzman to his men temporarily.

Mike Vigil, a former DEA agent, believes that a similar violent upheaval may be averted this time, as the cartel possesses a strong lineup of prospective leaders, including El Chapo’s brother. According to Vigil, the “Kingpin strategy” of targeting individual cartel leaders has often led to more internal strife rather than stability.

Potential Leadership Vacuums

• The Sinaloa Cartel faces challenges in leadership succession.
• Authorities have increased their military presence in Sinaloa in anticipation of potential violence.

Timing of the Operation

The timing of the operation raises questions, as the groundwork for the arrest had been in motion for months. Nevertheless, the final decision appeared opportunistic. US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the urgency surrounding the arrest, citing the escalating crisis of fentanyl-related deaths as a driving force behind the operation—particularly, it being the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

Fentanyl Crisis

With both Los Chapitos and Zambada profiting significantly from fentanyl production, the US aims to disrupt the toxic supply chain that has devastated many communities. However, experts caution that completely eliminating fentanyl trafficking is unlikely due to its profitability and entrenched position within the drug trade landscape in Mexico.

Summary of the Arrest

In conclusion, Zambada’s long-elusive capture marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking, while leaving unanswered questions about the future of leadership within the Sinaloa Cartel and the potential for subsequent violence as rival factions maneuver for power.