On Thursday, two Sinaloa cartel leaders, Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, were arrested in the United States. Guzman Lopez, son of notorious cartel boss Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, orchestrated their arrest by luring Zambada to the US under the pretense of examining land in Mexico.

Upon landing in El Paso, Texas, federal agents arrested them. This operation, exploiting a rift within the cartel, marks a significant victory for US law enforcement.

The Sinaloa cartel is a major narcotics trafficking organization responsible for smuggling large quantities of drugs into the US.

The arrests, hailed by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, target the cartel’s core operations, especially its fentanyl and methamphetamine networks.

Experts predict increased violence within the cartel following Zambada’s capture.

Despite skepticism from HSI agents, the operation went smoothly. Zambada pled not guilty and is held without bond on multiple charges, CNN has reported.

Guzman Lopez, flown to Chicago, faces similar charges and remains in federal custody.

Mexican officials, informed post-arrest, did not participate in the operation, prompting President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to call for transparency.

Both men, long pursued by US authorities, now face justice.

Zambada, indicted since 2009, had a $15 million reward for his capture. Guzman Lopez also faces numerous charges from a previous federal indictment.

Written by B.C. Begley