Mexican Drug Lord Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and 'El Chapo' Guzman's Son Arrested in Texas

In a significant blow to the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, federal authorities in Texas have arrested Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada Garcia, the alleged leader and co-founder of the cartel, along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. The arrests were announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday.

"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," said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement. Zambada Garcia and Guzman Lopez were apprehended in El Paso, Texas, after landing in a private plane, according to officials.

FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the operation, stating that the arrests were the result of a collaborative effort between the FBI and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to capture individuals who have evaded law enforcement for decades. These arrests follow a series of significant captures within the cartel, including "El Chapo" himself, his other son and cartel leader Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and the cartel's lead sicario, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as "El Nini."

Both Zambada Garcia and Guzman Lopez face multiple charges related to their leadership roles in the Sinaloa Cartel's criminal operations, including involvement in "deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks." Their detention marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to dismantle one of the world's most powerful drug trafficking organizations.