Turning Point in Mexican Drug Trade: Zambada’s Arrest and Its Implications

A significant shift looms for Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel following the arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada by U.S. authorities, marking the end of an era for the old guard of Mexican drug trafficking. Zambada, renowned for his strategic prowess and adeptness at corruption, had managed to evade capture for decades and had never been imprisoned. His detainment is expected to ignite a wave of violence in Mexico as power struggles ensue within the cartel, which boasts a vast international influence.

EXCLUSIVE our affiliate @KTSMtv obtained new video of Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez arriving in a plane in Santa Teresa as federal agents awaited to arrest the two men @NewsNation pic.twitter.com/RKIbhGmY3t

— Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) July 27, 2024

With Zambada’s removal, experts predict an internal battle for leadership, potentially unleashing the more violent tendencies of the cartel’s younger members. To preempt this, the Mexican government has deployed 200 special forces to Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state, in anticipation of potential unrest.

Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, highlighted the risk of escalating violence across Mexico, which could have serious implications for both Mexico and the United States. The arrest might be a tactical win but poses strategic challenges, especially with the Jalisco New Generation cartel potentially seizing the opportunity to expand its influence.

Details of the arrest suggest Zambada was deceived into traveling to the U.S., where he was detained alongside Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of the notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The capture was executed without the knowledge or participation of the Mexican government, as confirmed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who, despite his criticism of targeting drug lords, acknowledged the arrest as a “progress.”

This is worth celebrating and taking a victory lap, but it isn’t the end by any means.

El Mayo off the board creates a vacuum, and now the Chapitos have to consolidate control over the entirety of Sinaloa, and this creates instability within and vulnerability from the outside.… pic.twitter.com/e8FPbdDOd2

— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) July 28, 2024

The involvement of “El Chapo’s” sons, known as the Chapitos, in orchestrating Zambada’s capture has stirred intrigue. The Chapitos, often at odds with Zambada, represent a faction within the cartel that has been instrumental in trafficking fentanyl to the U.S. Joaquín Guzmán López, considered less influential among the brothers, was also taken into custody, further complicating the cartel’s internal dynamics.

The arrest of Zambada, a key figure in the cartel responsible for vast corruption networks and drug trafficking, could potentially lead to revelations about the cartel’s operations if he cooperates with U.S. authorities. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Anne Milgram emphasized that this arrest targets the heart of a cartel responsible for a substantial portion of the drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, affecting Americans nationwide.

The arrest of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada this week comes on the heels of @RealTomHoman who made a statement that the Mexican cartels will be designated as a terrorist organization come January 20TH 2025.@RealTomHoman who will head the Trump administration… pic.twitter.com/rqMhPB195b

— hernando arce (@hernandoarce) July 27, 2024

The Mexican government’s approach under López Obrador, focusing on addressing the root causes of violence rather than directly confronting the cartels, has faced criticism from U.S. authorities. This strategy has allegedly allowed cartels to gain unprecedented power in Mexico’s history. As Zambada faces charges in multiple U.S. courts, the information he might provide could be pivotal in shaping the future landscape of Mexico’s drug trafficking and U.S.-Mexico relations.

Major Points

• Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key Sinaloa cartel leader, was captured, signaling a major shift in the cartel’s hierarchy.
• His arrest could spark internal conflicts within the cartel, as younger members vie for control, possibly increasing violence.
• Mexico deployed special forces to Culiacán to manage potential unrest following the arrest.
• The capture involved a sophisticated U.S. operation, possibly with internal betrayal, highlighting strategic complexity.
• Zambada’s capture may reveal critical cartel operations, challenging Mexico’s current approach and influencing regional security policies.

Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News