Two top leaders of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel were arrested by U.S. authorities in El Paso, Texas, on Thursday the Department of Justice announced.
The big picture: Cartel co-founder Ismael Zambada García, known as "El Mayo," and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, are allegedly among Mexico's most powerful drug traffickers.
State of play: The pair were "taken into custody" following their arrests on Thursday, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.
- Both men face multiple charges in the U.S. for allegedly leading the dominant cartel's criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks, per a DOJ statement.
- Zambada García, a former partner of El Chapo's, has been charged in several federal indictments over two decades for violations of U.S. narcotics laws.
Zoom out: The Drug Enforcement Administration was offering a reward of up to $15 million for the capture of Zambada García.
- The State Department alleges that he "has extensive real estate holdings" and is the owner of "a large milk company, a bus line, and a hotel."
Zoom in: Fentanyl is the leading cause of death for people aged 18-45 in the U.S., according to a congressional report.
- CDC data shows there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in 2023, with some 74,702 being from fentanyl.
What they're saying: "Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable," Garland said.
