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Ismael "Mayo" Zambada, the 76-year-old co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in the United States on Thursday after evading justice for decades.
Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, the 76-year-old co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in the United States on Thursday after evading justice for decades.
Captured in El Paso, Texas, Zambada had never been to jail despite being one of Mexico’s most-wanted drug traffickers and a top target of the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
The US had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest, surpassing the $10 million reward for rival cartel leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera.
Unlike Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was arrested multiple times before extradition, Zambada had never been jailed. Born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Zambada led a Sinaloa Cartel faction and avoided capture despite being a major international drug trafficker.
His organization was weakened by the arrests of family members, some of whom testified in El Chapo’s trial. Zambada had survived attacks and narrowly escaped capture by the Mexican army before his recent arrest.
Known for his low profile and business-focused approach, Zambada is considered one of Mexico’s most storied drug traffickers.
