Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the last of the grand old Mexican drug traffickers, was recently captured by U.S. authorities, marking the end of an era for the powerful Sinaloa cartel. Zambada’s arrest has the potential to lead to a new wave of violence in Mexico as it opens the door to the younger, more violent generation of Sinaloa traffickers. The Mexican government has already deployed special forces to Culiacan, Sinaloa state’s capital, in anticipation of potential violence.
While Zambada’s arrest is seen as a tactical success, it poses strategic challenges as it could trigger internal conflicts within the Sinaloa cartel and potentially lead to the rise of more violent cartels. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has criticized the strategy of taking down drug kingpins, acknowledged the arrests as an “advance” but maintained that Mexico had no knowledge of the U.S. operation.
Zambada’s arrest is significant as he was known for his ability to corrupt officials and negotiate with rivals. He could provide valuable information about the cartel’s operations if he decides to cooperate with U.S. authorities. The capture of Zambada also sheds light on the internal dynamics within the Sinaloa cartel, particularly the rivalry between Zambada and the “Chapitos”, a faction within the cartel led by the sons of the infamous Sinaloa leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
Overall, Zambada’s arrest marks a turning point for the Sinaloa cartel and has the potential to impact the drug trafficking landscape in Mexico and the United States.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com