On June 25, the US Justice Division introduced the arrest of two high-ranking leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel – co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
“Each males are dealing with a number of costs in the US for main the Cartel’s legal operation,” US Lawyer Basic Merrick Garland mentioned in an announcement on June 25.
Zambada, 76 and Guzman, 38, are the newest Sinaloa cartel leaders arrested by the Justice Division. El Chapo and one other of his sons, Ovidio Guzman Lopez – together with Nestor Isidro Perez Salas or “El Nini” – are already in US custody for drug trafficking.
US President Joe Biden recommended the legislation enforcement officers “for his or her ongoing work to deliver Sinaloa cartel leaders to justice”.
However the circumstances of their arrests in El Paso, Texas are shrouded in thriller, with the US ambassador to Mexico on Friday acknowledging that Zambada was dropped at the US towards his will, whereas Zambada’s lawyer has claimed that his consumer was kidnapped by Guzman from Mexico. Guzman’s lawyer, alternatively, mentioned that it was voluntary give up.
So what do we all know concerning the arrests and the way they could have an effect on the drug cartels? How will this influence bilateral ties between the US and Mexico?
What do we all know concerning the arrests?
It’s alleged that Guzman lured Zambada to board the aircraft underneath the pretense of exploring actual property property, just for the plane to finally head in direction of the US border and for the 2 to be arrested by legislation enforcement.
El Chapo, the previous chief of the Sinaloa cartel, was extradited in January 2017 to the US, the place he confronted costs together with drug trafficking, cash laundering, and fascinating in a unbroken legal enterprise.
In 2019, El Chapo was sentenced to life in jail on the US penitentiary ADX Florence, a “supermax” high-security jail in Colorado.
Particulars are nonetheless murky concerning the latest arrests, with Zambada and Guzman giving conflicting accounts of what occurred.
“I used to be ambushed,” Zambada mentioned in an announcement launched by way of his lawyer on Saturday. Zambada’s legal professional introduced on Friday that Guzman and 6 males in navy uniforms “forcibly kidnapped” his consumer in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state. They then proceeded to move him towards his will to the US.
Guzman’s lawyer denies this, saying it was a voluntary give up after extended discussions with US legislation enforcement.
What can we learn about Zambada and Guzman Lopez?
Zambada started his legal profession within the Nineteen Eighties, initially working with the Juarez cartel and Amado Carrillo Fuentes earlier than partnering with “El Chapo” to guide the Sinaloa cartel.
Recognized for sustaining a low profile whereas specializing in the enterprise facets of drug trafficking somewhat than resorting to violence, he was indicted within the US in 2003, with a reward for his seize rising to $15m.
Guzman, identified by his alias “El Guero Moreno”, is the son of “El Chapo”, the previous chief of the Sinaloa cartel.
Alongside along with his brothers, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, he led a faction inside the cartel generally known as “Los Chapitos.” Ovidio Guzman Lopez is at present within the US custody.
This group, “Los Chapitos”, has been concerned in drug trafficking operations, together with the distribution of fentanyl and different illicit substances throughout the US.
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug menace our nation has ever confronted, and the Justice Division won’t relaxation till each single cartel chief, member, and affiliate answerable for poisoning our communities is held accountable,” US Lawyer Basic Garland mentioned.
Following their latest arrests, the cartel members have pleaded not responsible to a number of drug trafficking costs within the US.
What are Mexican and US authorities saying concerning the seize?
US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar confirmed that Zambada was dropped at the US involuntarily, stating, “The proof we noticed signifies that they introduced El Mayo Zambada towards his will.”
Mexico has requested the US to disclose the circumstances surrounding the arrests. The shortage of cooperation from the US authorities in clarifying these particulars was a supply of frustration for the outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who referred to as for transparency from the US.
Claudia Sheinbaum, who shall be sworn in on October 1 as Mexico’s new president, has not made any public statements concerning the latest arrests.
The US’s Garland described the operation that led to their arrests on account of betrayal inside the cartel.
How will this influence US relations with Mexico?
The shock nature of the arrests has fuelled hypothesis concerning the extent of US involvement in cartel affairs, which has additional heightened the Mexican administration’s mistrust of US safety insurance policies.
The Mexican authorities has constantly demonstrated sensitivity in direction of issues of nationwide sovereignty when partaking with the US. The arrest of Zambada and Guzman has the potential to pressure relations between the 2 neighbours.
Mexico’s Secretary of Safety Rosa Icela Rodriguez acknowledged that it’s unclear whether or not Zambada’s switch was a voluntary give up or a kidnapping, and he or she has referred to as for extra info from US officers.
Mexico has lengthy cooperated with the US in its so-called battle on medicine. The US has additionally sought Mexico’s assist in tackling the arrival of asylum seekers to the US border. However ties have been examined since Lopez Obrador turned Mexico’s president in 2018.
How will this influence the way forward for the Sinaloa cartel?
The arrests have raised considerations amongst Mexican authorities concerning the potential escalation in violence inside drug trafficking teams.
The rivalry inside the Sinaloa cartel, particularly the competitors between Zambada’s faction and Guzman’s faction alongside his brothers, would possibly gas an impending energy battle that might probably set off violent clashes.
This might probably result in different cartels exploiting the rivalry inside the Sinaloa cartel. The Jalisco New Technology cartel may benefit from the Sinaloa cartel’s weakened state and try and increase its territory and affect.
However for the US, this marks an enormous success in its battle on medicine.
“Too lots of our residents have misplaced their lives to the scourge of fentanyl,” US President Biden has mentioned. “Too many households have been damaged and are struggling due to this damaging drug. My administration will proceed doing all the things we will to carry lethal drug traffickers to account and to avoid wasting American lives.”