Until Thursday, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada eluded U.S. law enforcement, here's what we know about the alleged drug kingpin and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel.
Zambada and one of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán's sons were arrested in Texas on Thursday after they arrived on a private planeIsmael “El Mayo” Zambada, the top leader and co-founder of Mexico 's Sinaloa cartel, eluded the reach of U.S. law enforcement for decades as the criminal organization evolved into the world's biggest manufacturer and smuggler of illicit fentanyl pills and other drugs to the United States.
Zambada is believed to have started his criminal career as an enforcer back in the 1970s. He later emerged as a major figure in the Juarez cartel until its top leader, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, was arrested in 1989 in the kidnapping and killing of U.S. drug agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena by drug traffickers on Mexican soil.
Once focused mostly on marijuana and cocaine, the cartel has diversified over the years to meet consumer demand. Along with fentanyl, it also smuggles Mexican-produced methamphetamine, heroin made from Mexican-grown opium poppies and small amounts of lower-grade marijuana for parts of the U.S. where pot has not been legalized.
U.S. officials also blame the Sinaloa organization for much of the migrant smuggling from Mexico into the United States. Record numbers of people have arrived at the border this year, something that has become a major issue in the presidential election.The son of “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was arrested with Zambada in Texas, is considered one of the lower-profile sons in the family.
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