Two top leaders of the notorious Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel were arrested on Thursday (July 25) in Texas. In a statement, the US Justice Department said it arrested Sinaloa’s co-founder Ismael Zambada Garcia (aka El Mayo) and El Chapo’s son Joaquin Guzman Lopez.

Washington had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to Zambada’s arrest.

“Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartel’s criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks,” the Justice Department said.

“El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable in the United States,” it added.

The arrests were another major blow to the Sinaloa cartel. El Chapo (aka Joaquin Guzman) is already behind bars and is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in the US.

Chapo was convicted in 2019 of running what was believed to be the world’s biggest narcotics syndicate.

After El Chapo’s capture, several of his sons, collectively known as the “Chapitos” or “The Little Chapos,” inherited control of the organisation, according to the US authorities.

One of his sons, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, was extradited to the US in 2023 to face narcotics charges.

According to the think tank InSight Crime, the Sinaloa cartel has forged connections at the highest levels of Mexico’s federal police and military and has bribed members of both institutions to maintain an advantage over rival organisations.

Zambada is believed to have never served time in prison, and US authorities have been after him for decades. Before Zambada was detained, InSight Crimes said that he was known primarily for maintaining a low profile and a focus on business over violence.

“In addition, he is one of the few old-guard bosses who has managed to evade justice throughout his criminal career,” the think tank added.