The son of jailed Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera and a cartel co-founder were arrested in El Paso, Texas, facing multiple charges related to their involvement in the Mexico-based criminal organization. Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted the role of the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels in the synthetic drug crisis in the U.S., particularly fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking.
El Chapo, serving a life sentence in the U.S., is a key figure in the drug trade, with his sons taking over his drug trafficking networks. The four sons, known as the “Chapitos,” are involved in the Sinaloa Cartel, promoting the production and distribution of fentanyl. Joaquín Guzmán López, Ovidio Guzmán López, and two other sons of El Chapo have been indicted, with Ovidio being extradited to the U.S. last year to face charges.
Co-founder of the cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Zambada García has been involved in an internal battle with the “Chapitos,” controlling one of the four factions of the cartel. The DEA emphasizes the role of these cartels in supplying fentanyl to the U.S., leading to a significant number of drug overdose deaths.
Despite efforts by the cartels to portray a ban on fentanyl trafficking, DEA reports indicate that fentanyl continues to be readily available in the U.S. The arrest of Zambada García is seen as a significant blow to the cartel’s operations, with hopes for justice served in a U.S. court. Overall, the involvement of these individuals and organizations underscores the ongoing challenges posed by drug trafficking and the need for continued law enforcement efforts to combat it.
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