Who is El Mayo Zambada and Why is He Important?

Ismael Zambada Garcia, commonly referred to as El Mayo, is one of the co-founders and leaders of Sinaloa Cartel. Known for focusing on business over violence like his more outwardly impressive rivals, El Mayo has emerged as a notable force within this criminal gang.

His arrest is certainly a setback to the cartel, yet unlikely to alter much as power vacuums emerge and rival factions jostle for control of the organization.

Who is El Mayo Zambada?

Ismael Zambada Garcia, better known by his nickname El Mayo, first made headlines during the early 90s as one of Mexico’s strongest drug traffickers – capable of moving tons and tons of cocaine and marijuana as well as multi-kilogram amounts of heroin. After Tijuana Cartel collapsed in early 2000s he eventually served as one of its major coordinators with Sinaloa Cartel taking its place as major coordinator.

El Mayo is widely recognized for taking control of the cartel following the arrest of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and continuing its operations to this day. An immensely dangerous figure, El Mayo boasts an extensive network of complicity that includes banks and governments.

On Thursday, police arrested a 76-year-old co-founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel who is considered one of the most consequential traffickers ever. Known for running its smuggling operations while remaining low profile.

Intellect-minded, this con man managed to avoid arrest for decades. Starting as a furniture delivery man in Culiacan before entering the drug trade as a middle manager and rising through its ranks. Over time he became closer with Amado Carrillo Fuentes (the “Lord of the Skies”), becoming an instrumental member in their cocaine smuggling operations.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s role in the Sinaloa Cartel?

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was one of Mexico’s most notorious traffickers, playing an instrumental role in creating and running the Sinaloa Cartel alongside Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Together they allegedly smuggled thousands of tons of cocaine and other drugs into America while remaining undetected by authorities for decades.

Though El Chapo was known for being flashy in his approach to running his cartel, Zambada played an equally pivotal role. With access to government officials and local populations in Sinaloa state, his relationships allowed him to smuggle drugs into America while remaining undetected for decades.

He reportedly controlled the cartel’s entry points into the US, assuring its transporters and partners had the money necessary to fund their activities. Furthermore, he maintained an extensive money-laundering network both in Mexico and in the US.

Zambada had achieved great success during his life; however, his alleged ruthless streak became increasingly apparent as time progressed and became known for betraying those he trusted. Furthermore, his relationship with wife Griselda Lopez Perez proved detrimental as she worked to reveal Zambada’s schemes.

On Thursday, the FBI and DEA arrested Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia along with his son Joaquin Guzman Lopez (known as Little Chapos). Their arrest represents a significant blow against Sinaloa Cartel; these two men were charged with overseeing an elaborate operation to import deadly fentanyl into America – something which has claimed thousands of lives both here in America as well as Mexico.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s relationship with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman?

Zambada was Guzman’s co-conspirator in founding and expanding the cartel into one of the world’s largest criminal networks. Zambada oversaw drug movement and distribution – including fentanyl linked with opioid misuse in America.

According to US government documents, Zambada began cooperating with authorities in 2011. According to US filings, his information helped lead to the arrests and indictments of several high-ranking cartel members as well as helping pinpoint drug-trafficking operations of cartel. His services were reportedly rewarded with up to $15 million by the United States for his cooperation.

He was one of Mexico’s last influential cartel leaders to be taken into custody, maintaining a low profile and rarely traveling outside his native Sinaloa state. Thanks to his connections with both Mexican authorities and his local community, he managed to operate for over four decades without ever seeing inside a jail cell.

On Thursday, Guzman was arrested along with his son Joaquin “El Guero” Zambada Lopez as they flew into Santa Teresa Airport from Mexico. Federal agents interception their flight at Santa Teresa was described by witnesses as an “orderly, calm event”. Both individuals were quickly and quietly taken into custody by federal officers.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s relationship with the United States?

Ismael El Mayo Zambada Garcia has long been one of the key figures in Mexican drug cartels and remains one of the most dangerous traffickers to evade capture. Amid bloody wars among rival cartels, Zambada managed to form ties with Colombian cocaine suppliers and amass an extensive international smuggling route network, which made him one of Mexico’s premier drug traffickers.

Zambada admitted in an exclusive 2010 interview with Mexican magazine Proceso that his source of livelihood was trafficking large quantities of cocaine and other illegal substances into America, fearing prison but considering suicide over facing life behind bars.

Zambada still ran the Sinaloa Cartel and amassed vast fortunes through drug import and export operations worldwide. Reportedly a master strategist, he maintained low profile operations of his cartel’s smuggling operations while remaining at its helm.

On Thursday in El Paso, Zambada and Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Lopez (his son) were arrested together, dealing a major blow to both the cartel and US government. Both individuals were charged with multiple crimes related to conspiring to make and distribute fentanyl — an opioid responsible for killing many thousands in recent overdose cases in America.

FAQs About Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia

Who is El Mayo Zambada?

Q: Who is Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia?

A: Ismael Zambada Garcia, commonly referred to as El Mayo, is one of the co-founders and leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, a powerful drug trafficking organization based in Mexico. He first rose to prominence in the early 1990s as a significant figure in the drug trade, moving vast quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin. Following the fall of the Tijuana Cartel in the early 2000s, El Mayo played a key role in the Sinaloa Cartel’s rise to dominance.

Q: What is El Mayo Zambada known for?

A: El Mayo is known for his strategic approach to the drug trade, emphasizing business operations over violence. He has maintained a relatively low profile compared to his more flamboyant counterparts, such as Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Despite this, he has built an extensive network involving government and financial institutions, allowing him to evade capture for decades.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s role in the Sinaloa Cartel?

Q: What role did El Mayo Zambada play in the Sinaloa Cartel?

A: El Mayo Zambada was instrumental in the founding and operation of the Sinaloa Cartel. Alongside El Chapo Guzman, he managed the cartel’s drug trafficking activities, overseeing the smuggling of thousands of tons of cocaine and other drugs into the United States. He controlled key entry points into the US and maintained a sophisticated money-laundering network to support the cartel’s activities.

Q: How did El Mayo Zambada maintain his power within the cartel?

A: El Mayo leveraged his connections with government officials and local communities in Sinaloa to protect his operations. His strategic acumen and ability to foster alliances helped him stay in power and continue the cartel’s activities even after the arrest of El Chapo.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s relationship with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman?

Q: How was El Mayo Zambada connected to El Chapo Guzman?

A: El Mayo and El Chapo were co-founders of the Sinaloa Cartel and worked closely together to build one of the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world. While El Chapo was known for his more public and violent approach, El Mayo was the more strategic and discreet partner.

Q: Did El Mayo Zambada ever cooperate with authorities?

A: According to US government documents, El Mayo began cooperating with authorities in 2011. His cooperation reportedly led to the arrests and indictments of several high-ranking cartel members and provided critical information on drug trafficking operations.

What is El Mayo Zambada’s relationship with the United States?

Q: How did El Mayo Zambada interact with the United States?

A: El Mayo Zambada was a key figure in the drug trade between Mexico and the United States, orchestrating the smuggling of large quantities of cocaine and other drugs into the US. Despite his criminal activities, he managed to avoid arrest for decades, partly due to his strategic approach and connections.

Q: Has El Mayo Zambada been arrested?

A: Yes, El Mayo Zambada was arrested along with his son Joaquin “El Guero” Zambada Lopez. Their capture marked a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel. They were charged with multiple crimes, including conspiring to produce and distribute fentanyl, an opioid linked to numerous overdose deaths in the United States.