Mexican Drug Lord 'El Mayo' And El Chapo’s Son Arrested By U.S. Authorities After Issuing Multi-Million Dollar Bounties

Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's son were apprehended on Thursday in El Paso, Texas.

Zambada, a pivotal figure in the drug trade, co-founded the infamous Sinaloa Cartel alongside El Chapo, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and is now serving a life sentence in a high-security prison.

The recent arrests also include Guzman Lopez, El Chapo's son, both of whom face numerous charges in the U.S. for their roles in smuggling substantial amounts of drugs, including fentanyl — a substance now recognized as the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.

A $15 million reward for Zambada's capture was issued by U.S. authorities, while there was a $5 million bounty on Guzman Lopez, according to 'Reuters.'

Both men were detained after arriving in El Paso aboard a private jet. According to sources familiar with the operation, Zambada was reportedly lured to the U.S. by Guzman Lopez. These sources, who asked to remain anonymous, indicated that the operation leading to their arrest was part of a broader strategy to dismantle major drug trafficking organizations.

U.S. authorities often target high-profile drug lords, frequently negotiating plea deals in return for information on other key cartel figures. While it has not been confirmed if such a deal was made in this case, if Guzman Lopez, who's in his 30s, did indeed betray Zambada, it could have profound consequences for the Sinaloa Cartel.

This situation recalls a similar incident in 2008, when the arrest of another senior cartel member led to violent internal strife after allegations surfaced that El Chapo had orchestrated the arrest to weaken rival factions.

'Reuters' reports the Sinaloa cartel, who is one of the most powerful Mexican organized crime groups, traffics drugs to over 50 countries around the world.