US Authorities Capture Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder, After 35-Year Manhunt

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

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada has long been a powerful figure in the annals of the drug trade, notorious for his role in leading one of the world’s most significant drug trafficking organizations: the Sinaloa Cartel. As one of the last remaining leaders from the original generation of cartel heads, Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel alongside Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán after the collapse of the Guadalajara Cartel in 1989. Unlike Guzmán, who faced incarceration and daring escapes, Zambada managed to evade law enforcement for over three decades—until his recent capture in El Paso, Texas.

On Thursday, US authorities apprehended Zambada, who quickly entered a not guilty plea to multiple federal charges. His arrest was part of a meticulously organized sting operation orchestrated by El Chapo’s son, Joaquín Guzmán López, believed to have induced Zambada’s belief that he was traveling to northern Mexico to assess land for clandestine airstrips.

A Fear of Captivity

In a 2010 interview with acclaimed journalist Julio Scherer García, Zambada expressed his profound fear of imprisonment. “The idea of being jailed gives me panic,” he disclosed, acknowledging his uncertainty about having the resolve to take his own life. It raises eyebrows that a figure known for his cautious approach fell for a ruse at the age of 76. Mike Vigil, a former DEA agent, noted, “He is in his 70s, in poor health, and has already admitted that prison was his greatest fear.”

The Future of the Sinaloa Cartel

With both Zambada and his rival Guzmán’s son in custody, questions loom about the future leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel. Following Guzmán’s extradition in 2016, turf wars erupted within the cartel as factions vied for control. This resulted in a significant upsurge in violence, particularly evident when Ovidio Guzmán López was arrested in late 2019, sparking a violent outburst known as the Culiacanazo. However, Vigil suggests that a similar violent outburst may not be imminent this time, thanks to a strong network of potential leaders within the cartel.

“The Sinaloa Cartel has a very strong bench of possible leaders who could take over, including El Chapo’s brother,” he remarked. He added that targeting individual cartel leaders, a strategy employed during former president Felipe Calderon’s administration, often leads to internal conflicts and bloodshed, potentially benefiting rival groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Timing of the Arrest

The question of “why now?” regarding Zambada’s arrest remains prevalent. While the operation was in the making for months, reports indicate an opportunistic sentiment among the US authorities as they decided to act when the conditions appeared favorable. US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the urgent need to confront fentanyl trafficking, labeling it as “the deadliest threat our country has ever faced.”

Fentanyl overdoses have become the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45, and both Zambada and Guzmán López have amassed immense wealth through the trade of this potent synthetic opioid. Experts argue that entirely shutting down the smuggling of fentanyl may be nearly impossible; however, US law enforcement aims to diminish the cartels’ influence and dismantle their leadership structures. The apprehension of Zambada is significant in this overarching strategy.