Mexican Drug Lord "El Mayo" in U.S. Custody, Sources Confirm
In a significant blow to the notorious Sinaloa cartel, Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán’s closest ally and longtime partner, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, has been taken into custody by U.S. authorities, according to multiple sources.
The 77-year-old Zambada, widely regarded as one of the most powerful drug traffickers in Mexico, was arrested in Mexico City earlier this week, sources confirmed to Reuters. The capture is a major coup for U.S. law enforcement, which has long sought to bring El Mayo to justice.
El Mayo, who has been wanted in the United States since the 1990s, was a key figure in the Sinaloa cartel, working closely with El Chapo to smuggle massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine into the United States.
The cartel’s empire was worth an estimated $3 billion annually, according to U.S. officials. El Mayo’s arrest marks a significant victory in the decades-long struggle to dismantle the organization.
"El Mayo’s arrest is a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and a major milestone in our efforts to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations," said a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
U.S. authorities had been tracking El Mayo’s movements for months, building a case against him that included wiretapped conversations and financial evidence.
El Mayo’s arrest follows the extradition of El Chapo to the United States in 2017, where he was convicted of drug trafficking and is currently serving a life sentence.
El Mayo’s rise to prominence in the drug world began in the 1980s, when he became a key figure in the Sinaloa cartel. He was known for his ruthless tactics and ability to evade capture, earning him a reputation as one of the most feared drug traffickers in Mexico.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to El Mayo’s capture. His arrest is seen as a significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking, and is likely to have far-reaching implications for the Sinaloa cartel and other organized crime groups.
U.S. authorities are expected to hold El Mayo in custody pending a formal extradition request to Mexico. From there, he will be transported to the United States to face charges related to his drug trafficking activities.
The arrest is likely to send shockwaves through Mexico’s drug underworld, and could have a significant impact on the country’s criminal landscape.
"This is a significant development in the war on drugs, and a major blow to the Sinaloa cartel," said Tom Long, a security expert at the Texas-based James A. Baker Institute. "El Mayo was a key figure in the cartel, and his capture will likely have far-reaching consequences."