Two high-profile cartel leaders, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, were arrested at a small airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in a surprise operation led by law enforcement. The arrest, orchestrated by Guzman Lopez as part of a ploy to secure a better plea agreement for himself, was met with shock and curiosity by locals in the area. Zambada, a key player in the Sinaloa Cartel and known for his strategic acumen, was considered as dangerous and important as “El Chapo” Guzman. Zambada’s arrest was motivated by the cartel’s role in flooding the U.S. with lethal fentanyl over the past decade, prompting a scorched-earth campaign by the government against them. The case has kicked off a power struggle within the cartel and raised concerns about further violence. The Sinaloa Cartel, founded by Zambada, El Chapo, and El Azul, became a global drug trafficking powerhouse, with Zambada known as the business-minded leader behind the scenes while El Chapo acted as the violent face. The hunt for Zambada involved increasing internal tensions, a focus on the Chapitos, and cooperation from relatives like El Vicentillo. The arrest underscores the U.S. government’s determination to go after cartel leaders responsible for drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, across the southern border. The sequence of events leading to the arrest was shrouded in secrecy, but the capture of Zambada marks a significant milestone in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.
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