El Chapo's Son Lures Cartel Boss into Arrest in Dramatic Sting Operation

In a stunning turn of events, Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of infamous drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, reportedly orchestrated a dramatic sting operation that led to the arrest of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. The operation, which culminated in their arrest in El Paso, Texas, is said to have been fueled by Guzmán López's deep-seated resentment toward Zambada.

Zambada, 76, who has long been a central figure in drug trafficking and organized crime, was duped into boarding a private plane under the pretense of inspecting airfields for drug planes. According to the Wall Street Journal, Zambada believed the aircraft would be heading south to Mexico, but it instead landed in El Paso, where both he and Guzmán López were taken into custody.

The arrest followed a meticulous months-long investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI. Guzmán López, who assumed a leading role in the cartel after his father's extradition to the United States in 2017, reportedly struck a deal with U.S. authorities. In exchange for his surrender, Guzmán López agreed to turn in Zambada, whom he held responsible for his father's capture, as revealed by Fox News.

Zambada, known for his low profile compared to the flamboyant El Chapo, had been in ongoing communication with American law enforcement about potential surrender for at least the past three years. Despite his past statements expressing a willingness to take drastic measures to avoid capture, he never followed through until now.

Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the arrests, emphasizing the significance of the operation against one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations globally. "El Mayo and Guzmán López join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates whom the Justice Department is holding accountable in the US," Garland stated. The list also includes El Chapo and his other son, Ovidio Guzmán López, who was arrested and extradited in September.

The U.S. State Department had previously placed a $15 million bounty on Zambada and a $5 million bounty on Guzmán López. The arrest of these key figures could further destabilize the cartel and potentially exacerbate violence in Mexico, as the Sinaloa Cartel continues to be a major player in the global drug trade.

Both men are expected to face serious federal charges in the U.S. Zambada will be transferred to New York, while Guzmán López is set to appear in a Federal District Court in Chicago. The arrests mark a significant development in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel and combat the opioid crisis, which has seen fentanyl become a leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.

As the legal proceedings unfold, the impact of these arrests on the cartel's operations and the broader drug trafficking landscape remains to be seen.