In a significant blow to one of the world’s most notorious drug trafficking organizations, the FBI arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder and leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, on Thursday. The Justice Department announced the arrests, which took place in El Paso, Texas, though details of the operation remain scarce.

“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. This high-profile apprehension marks a critical milestone in the ongoing battle against international drug trafficking and organized crime.

Zambada, a longtime fugitive, had eluded capture for years despite a $5 million reward offered by the State Department in 2016 for information leading to his arrest. His capture ends a long-standing manhunt for one of the top figures in the global narcotics trade.

The Sinaloa cartel, based in Tijuana, has a notorious reputation for its violent tactics and powerful grip on drug trafficking routes. Zambada, alongside “El Chapo” Guzman, was instrumental in the cartel’s formation and rise to prominence. “El Chapo” was captured in 2016 and is currently serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in the United States, following his conviction on numerous charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering.

The arrests come amid increased efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle the Sinaloa cartel’s operations. Last year, federal prosecutors unsealed criminal charges against 28 members and associates of the cartel, accusing them of orchestrating a massive fentanyl trafficking network into the United States. Attorney General Garland and other Justice Department officials have attributed the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans to fentanyl distributed by the cartel.

These arrests are a testament to the relentless pursuit by U.S. law enforcement agencies to bring key cartel figures to justice and disrupt the operations of one of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. As the investigation continues, further details about the arrests and potential implications for the cartel’s future are eagerly awaited.

Credits: CBS News