DOJ arrests two drug cartel leaders

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrests of two top Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel leaders, founder El Chapo’s son Joaquin Guzman Lopez and the cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada Garcia (El Mayo) in El Paso, Texas.

Guzman Lopez, touted as the financial brains, had reportedly agreed to turn himself in to American authorities and assist in capturing El Mayo. El Chapo’s son lured the 76-year-old into boarding a private plane bound for the States under the pretense of looking at investment properties in northern Mexico. But the plane made a secret landing in El Paso.

The pair were quickly “taken into custody” following their arrests on Thursday, said Attorney General Merrick Garland. The operation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.

The arrests mark a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel, which is believed to be the top supplier of fentanyl to the country. El Mayo and Guzman Lopez are now charged with heading the cartel’s operations, fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking.

The move is important as El Mayo is a prominent figure and has never been captured. He has been charged multiple times over two decades for breaking US drug laws.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. The country saw over 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2023, out of which 74,702 were from fentanyl.

In a violent raid in Mexico last year, authorities captured the imprisoned drug lord El Chapo’s other son and extradited him to the US to face drug charges.

Two of the three El Chapo sons are under American custody now. His eldest son, Ivan, is expected to try to consolidate power within the cartel.