International

Leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel arrested in Texas

Published

3 months ago

July 26, 2024

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada (left) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez

Leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel arrested in Texas

One of the world’s most powerful drug lords, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, has been arrested by US federal agents in El Paso, Texas.

Zambada, 76, founded the criminal organisation with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently jailed in the US.

Arrested with Zambada on Thursday was Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, said the US justice department.

In February, Zambada was charged by US prosecutors with a conspiracy to make and distribute fentanyl, a drug more powerful than heroin that has been blamed for the US opioid crisis.

In a written statement on Thursday evening, US Attorney General Merrick Garland said the two men lead “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world”.

“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,” Mr Garland said.

“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable,” added Mr Garland, the top law enforcement officer in the US.

American prosecutors say the Sinaloa cartel is the biggest supplier of drugs to the US.

US authorities have previously noted that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45.

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The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had been offering a reward of up to $15m (£12m) for Zambada’s capture.

During Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s trial in 2019, his lawyers accused Zambada of bribing the “entire” Mexican government in exchange for living openly without fear of prosecution.

“In truth he controlled nothing,” Guzman’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, told jurors of his client. “Mayo Zambada did,” he claimed.

According to the US state department, Zambada is also the owner of several legitimate businesses in Mexico, including “a large milk company, a bus line, and a hotel”, as well as real estate assets.

Alongside fentanyl charges, he is also facing charges in the US ranging from drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, money laundering and organised crime.

In May, Zambada’s nephew – Eliseo Imperial Castro, who was known as “Cheyo Antrax” – was killed in an ambush in Mexico. He was also wanted by US authorities.

Zambada is arguably the biggest drug lord in the world and certainly the most influential in the Americas.

He had evaded authorities for decades, and as such, his arrest has come as a shock in Mexico.

Details of the arrests of the two men remain unclear, but it appears they flew into the United States.

Citing Mexican and US officials, the Wall Street Journal reports that Zambada was tricked into boarding the plane by a high-ranking Sinaloa member following a months-long operation by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

Zambada believed he was going to inspect clandestine airfields in Mexico, the paper reports.

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In a statement, US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said the Sinaloa cartel “pioneered the manufacture of fentanyl and has for years trafficked it into our country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans and devastating countless communities”.

FBI director Chris Wray said the arrests are “an example of the FBI’s and our partners’ commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel,” he said.

As more information emerges, Zambada’s arrest will no doubt be heralded by President Joe Biden’s administration as one of the most significant operations by the DEA in years.

Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa cartel in the wake of the collapse of the Guadalajara cartel at the end of the 1980s.

While Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was the public face of the organisation and the most notorious of the two men, many believed it was in fact El Mayo who was its real leader.

Not only ruthless, he was also innovative, creating and maintaining some of the earliest links with Colombian cartels to flood the US with cocaine and heroin.

And more latterly, fentanyl.

His leadership of the criminal empire has endured in the face of changing presidents in Mexico and the US, amid repeated anti-drug offensives from successive governments and constant efforts by his enemies in other drug-trafficking organisations to bring him down.

That is no mean feat in the violent, dangerous and treacherous underworld in which he has operated as an unassailable kingpin for many years.

Yet that extraordinary resilience appears to have run out in El Paso, Texas – a city blighted by the influx of the synthetic opioid, fentanyl, much of which was smuggled in by his organisation.

Leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel arrested in Texas

BBC

International

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar feared killed in Israeli Gaza operation

Published

4 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Trends Admin

Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar feared killed in Israeli Gaza operation

Yahya Sinwar, a senior leader within Hamas, is feared to have been killed during an Israeli military operation in Gaza, according to emerging reports.

Sinwar, who allegedly played a pivotal role in the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, is at the centre of an investigation by Israeli authorities, though confirmation of his death is still pending.

Sources cited by the BBC suggest that preliminary assessments point toward Sinwar, 61, being among those killed in recent strikes, but final verification has not been made.

Disturbing images circulating online depict a lifeless body resembling Sinwar amid the debris of a targeted building, showing visible injuries.

Sinwar gained prominence in Hamas after his release from an Israeli prison in 2011 as part of a widely publicized prisoner exchange. Known for his militant stance, he championed military actions over diplomatic negotiations with Israel.

For years, Israel has considered Sinwar one of its most wanted targets in Gaza. He is accused of orchestrating the deadly October 7 attacks that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of over 250 individuals into Gaza.

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Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, recently invoked a passage from the Torah, underscoring the nation’s determination to retaliate: “You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword.” Gallant emphasized Israel’s commitment to targeting those responsible for assaults on its people.

Anonymous officials quoted by Reuters revealed that the Israeli security cabinet has been briefed on the likelihood that Sinwar has been killed. Similarly, Channel 12 reported that government insiders believe Sinwar was neutralized during the ongoing offensive in Gaza.

An Israeli security source told AFP that DNA testing is underway to confirm whether the body recovered from the rubble belongs to Sinwar. His DNA and biometric data, obtained during his previous imprisonment in Israel, are being used for identification.

The strike reportedly occurred during an operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, where Israeli troops clashed with militants. The Israeli military announced that three fighters were killed in the encounter, with indications suggesting Sinwar may have been among them.

If verified, Sinwar’s death would represent a significant achievement for Israel, dealing a symbolic blow to Hamas amid the ongoing conflict. His leadership role in coordinating Hamas’ militant operations, including the recent attacks, has made him a prime target.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar feared killed in Israeli Gaza operation

International

Elon Musk donates $75m to support Trump’s presidential campaign

Published

7 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Trends Admin

Elon Musk donates $75m to support Trump’s presidential campaign

In a significant display of political backing, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has contributed nearly $75 million to a political action committee (PAC) he established to support Donald Trump’s 2024 U.S. presidential campaign.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings made public on Tuesday, this large donation highlights Musk’s growing involvement in Trump’s bid for the presidency.

Musk, the world’s richest man, has become an increasingly prominent figure in Trump’s campaign. Recently, he appeared on stage with the former president at a Pennsylvania rally, where he made his support clear.

Musk has also been vocal on social media, frequently criticizing Trump’s Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris.

Trump has often mentioned Musk in his speeches, even promising to appoint him to a committee aimed at reducing government bureaucracy if he wins the election.

Currently, the race between Trump and Harris is extremely tight, with polls indicating a neck-and-neck contest for the White House.

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Musk’s America PAC, which was launched to mobilize grassroots efforts for Trump, has raised $74.95 million between July and September 2024.

The PAC has directed much of its efforts toward battleground states like Pennsylvania, where the overall outcome of the election may be decided.

The group’s website advertises paid opportunities for individuals to help boost voter turnout, offering $30 per hour with bonuses for high performance.

Musk has also promised $47 to anyone who convinces a registered swing-state voter to sign a petition supporting free speech and gun rights.

Musk’s endorsement of Trump came after the Republican candidate survived an assassination attempt in July 2024, a moment that seemed to solidify the tech mogul’s support.

On the other side of the race, Kamala Harris has been no less aggressive in her campaign efforts. The vice president’s Harris Victory Fund PAC raised $633 million in the same period, according to FEC filings.

Harris entered the race following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal after a poor debate performance against Trump earlier this year.

Since launching her campaign, Harris has energized the Democratic base, focusing heavily on key battleground states. Her PAC’s year-to-date fundraising is close to $1 billion, standing at $931.2 million, indicating the high stakes in this closely watched presidential race.

With both candidates neck-and-neck and political donations pouring in from both sides, the 2024 election is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent history.

Elon Musk donates $75m to support Trump’s presidential campaign

International

Biden okays $4.5bn student debt relief as vote nears

Published

8 hours ago

October 17, 2024

Trends Admin

US President Joe Biden

Biden okays $4.5bn student debt relief as vote nears

US President Joe Biden announced Thursday further student debt relief for public servants — amounting to around $4.5 billion — with just over two weeks to go until the presidential election.

The action affects about 60,000 borrowers across the country, said the White House, touting Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s efforts to improve loan forgiveness since taking office.

Harris is the Democratic nominee in November’s White House race, running against Republican former president Donald Trump.

The announcement comes as households feel the weight of higher costs of living since the Covid-19 pandemic, with voters citing the economy as a crucial concern in polls.

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Biden said in a statement that with the latest move, more than one million people have had their debt cancelled under Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The promise of the program — supporting teachers, nurses and others — involved student debt forgiveness after 10 years of public service and 10 years of payments.

“But for too long, the government failed to live up to its commitments, and only 7,000 people had ever received forgiveness,” Biden said.

“I will never stop working to make higher education affordable,” he added.

Harris said in her own statement that higher education “should be a pathway to economic opportunity — not a lifetime of debt.”

She, too, promised to “continue our work to lower costs, make higher education more affordable, and relieve the burden of student debt.”

Biden has embarked on efforts to cancel student debt for millions of Americans, after a student loan payment freeze instituted by Trump during the coronavirus pandemic.

Americans hold $1.6 trillion in student loans, and some end up repaying them over decades as they start jobs and families.