A leader of one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels and the son of notorious drug kingpin “El Chapo” were arrested by authorities in Texas shortly after landing in a private plane in the El Paso area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ismael Zambada García, or “El Mayo,” a longtime leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, has eluded capture for years, acting as the cartel’s relatively unassuming strategist, compared to the organization’s headline-grabbing boss, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
El Chapo’s son, Joaquín Guzmán López, lured Zambada to the U.S., according to three current and former U.S. officials familiar with the operation who sought anonymity to speak candidly about the events.
More: Mexican drug lord Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and ‘El Chapo’ Guzman’s son arrested in Texas
Guzmán López is one of four of the drug lord’s children who have become key figures in the cartel over the last few years. Called Los Chapitos, or “the little Chapos,” the foursome are credited by U.S. authorities with rebuilding their father’s international drug empire since his 2017 extradition and 2019 incarceration .