In a major development, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada was detained by DEA agents on Thursday in the United States. The operation, reportedly taking place near the Texas-New Mexico border, marks the capture of one of the most significant leaders in the history of the Sinaloa Cartel. The news was initially reported by Jesús Esquivel from Proceso magazine and later confirmed by Reuters.
Early reports, still under verification, suggest that Zambada may have voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities. This could potentially offer him certain advantages in future legal proceedings as a protected witness.
Mexican drug lord “El Mayo” is in U.S. custody, sources say https://t.co/slvJwlnUcU pic.twitter.com/ruvhkd0sTI
— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 25, 2024
Who is ‘El Mayo’ Zambada?
Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, born on January 1, 1948, in El Álamo, Sinaloa, is one of the most influential leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. Unlike other prominent drug lords, Zambada has maintained a relatively low profile, allowing him to evade capture by authorities for decades.
Since the 1970s, Zambada has been a key figure in drug trafficking and has collaborated with other notorious drug traffickers, including Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán. Following Guzmán’s capture and extradition to the United States, Zambada emerged as one of the principal leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Zambada has been relentlessly pursued by Mexican and U.S. authorities throughout his career. The U.S. government had offered substantial rewards for information leading to his capture. The detention of this legendary and enigmatic figure marks a significant event in the fight against organized crime in Mexico.
In this video, you can learn about the story of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, his relationship with ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, and his role within the Sinaloa Cartel:
This article was originally published in Spanish on Cultura Colectiva News by Miguel Ángel Fernandez.
