Security authorities in the United States of America have arrested a Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, the son of notorious cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
They were apprehended by law enforcement in El Paso, Texas.
El Chapo’s sons are known for their volatility and propensity for violence, whereas Zambada Garcia is regarded as a cunning and calculating operator.
Reuters reports that the latest high-profile arrest has the potential to significantly impact the Mexican criminal underworld, potentially leading to a shift in the balance of power among cartels.
Two US officials who spoke to Reuters said the suspects were taken into custody upon arrival in El Paso after disembarking from a private plane.
“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organisations in the world,” the US Department of Justice said on Thursday.
Their arrests resulted from a collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as announced by HSI in a statement.
As a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo, Zambada is considered one of Mexico’s most significant drug traffickers.
Notorious Mexican drug lord ‘El Mayo’, El Chapo’s son arrested in US