The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the arrest of two prominent figures associated with the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the world’s most notorious and violent drug trafficking organizations. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland revealed that Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as “El Mayo,” and Joaquin Guzman Lopez were apprehended today in El Paso, Texas.
El Mayo, a cofounder of the Sinaloa Cartel, and Guzman Lopez, the son of another cofounder, are now in custody facing numerous charges related to their leadership roles within the cartel. These charges include involvement in the cartel’s operations concerning the manufacturing and trafficking of fentanyl, a substance responsible for a significant portion of the nation’s overdose deaths.
The arrests of El Mayo and Guzman Lopez add to a growing roster of cartel figures held accountable by the Justice Department. This list includes Joaquín Guzmán Loera, known as “El Chapo,” another cofounder of the cartel; Ovidio Guzmán López, one of El Chapo’s sons and a suspected leader within the cartel; and Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” who is alleged to be a leading enforcer for the cartel.
Fentanyl remains the most deadly drug threat facing the United States today. The Justice Department has emphasized its commitment to continuing efforts until all individuals involved in the cartel’s criminal activities are brought to justice.