El Mayo’s Capture and its Implications
The apprehension authorities succeeded in achieving on Zambada, a man that has dodged arrest for decades without spending a day behind bars is explained by this shrewd operator never set foot in prison. This could also unleash the violent tendencies of younger Sinaloa traffickers, according to experts.
Mexican Government Response
Culiacan, the capital of Sinalao state, was flooded with 200 ‘Gafe’ members sent by the Mexican government. Dr. Vanda Felbab-Brown from The Brookings Institution told BBC Newsnight: “There is serious potential for both an escalation of violence across Mexico as well as a move into new territories…,” and she pointed out that it’s not good news for either country. Moreover, Felbab-Brown cautioned against overlooking the rise of the more brutal Jalisco New Generation cartel. She called Zambada’s arrest “a great tactical success but a strategic problem.”
Arrest Details
The details surrounding Zambada’s arrest are thin on the ground, but according to one US official who spoke anonymously, Zambada was tricked into flying into America where he was taken into custody together with Joaquín Guzmán López – son to infamous Sinaloa leader Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán – serving life imprisonment in America. A small plane took off from Hermosillo, Northern Mexico on Thursday morning carrying only an American pilot en route Santa Teresa airport in New Mexico; said Rosa Icela Rodríguez- Mexican Security Secretary. She added that while one person left Hermosillo, three arrived at New Mexico.
Flight Tracking and Presidential Response
According to Flight Aware, a flight tracking site, over northern Mexico mountains there was about 30 minutes when the plane stopped transmitting its altitude and speed before eventually heading towards US.
Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador publicly stated that his country had played no part in the US operation and was not even aware of its existence, however, he lauded the arrests as a “take down”. Commenting on the violent battles raging around Mexico’s border with Guatemala, Mr. López Obrador dismissed the events as mere skirmishes that forced 600 Mexicans to flee into neighboring country in one week. He blamed the unrest on opposition parties. Yet prior to Zambada’s arrest these cartels had been at war in various parts of México.
Internal Cartel Dynamics
According to Frank Pérez, Zambada’s legal advisor who spoke to The Associated Press, “he did not come here voluntarily.” José Reveles has written books about drug cartels and believes it is possible that the sons of El Chapo Guzmán succeeded in trapping Zambada. Despite their other criminal activities involving drugs, this faction within Sinaloa cartel frequently clashes with Zambada.
Role and Arrest of Guzmán López
According to Reveles: “This person (Guzmán López) is not his friend or confidant.” Guzmán López is one of four Chapitos brothers and is considered least influential among them .Today, two of them are being held by American authorities while their chief security officer was apprehended by Mexican forces last November.
Impact on drug trafficking activities
Guwadu noted that Guzmán López has been accused of being the cartel’s go-between in importing precursor chemicals from Asia to make fentanyl and setting up labs for narcotics production.
“The arrest of Zambada hits at the heart of what is known as the major source of drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine that are killing Americans from coast to coast” said Anne Milgram, Chief US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Strategic Implications and Potential Cooperation
The present Mexican administration which ends on 30th September, has struggled to contain violence in Mexico. Lopez Obrador’s approach that might allow him pacify ground level causes rather than confront directly with the gangs have damaged relations between Washington and other law enforcement authorities, especially DEA. Felbab-Brown explained that this has enabled cartels like never before to acquire unprecedented power over Mexico.
If Zambada cooperates he could give detailed information about how the cartel functions. His case pending before several federal courts in the United States. Felbab-Brown noted Zambada played a significant role in corrupting governments and controlling vast networks of corruption under various Mexican administrations both within and across geographical areas.
“What matters most now is how much intelligence El Mayo will provide or how much evidence he will produce so as to get better terms”, she said.
