International

Leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel arrested in Texas

Published

2 years 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

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

Several U.S. military warplanes crashed in Kuwait on Monday, March 2, 2026, amid ongoing Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region, Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence confirmed.

According to the ministry, all aircrews survived, were safely evacuated, and were taken to hospitals for evaluation. Their condition is reported as stable, and an investigation into the cause of the crashes is underway.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that three F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defence systems during heightened aerial operations, marking a friendly-fire incident amid the ongoing U.S.–Iran conflict.

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Smoke was also reported near the United States Embassy in Kuwait City, though officials have not confirmed any direct strike on the compound. The embassy issued a security alert advising people to avoid the area due to continuing threats from missiles and drones.

The crashes coincide with Iran’s third consecutive day of retaliatory attacks following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, targeting military bases, infrastructure, and strategic sites across Gulf countries, including UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. Iranian strikes have already resulted in civilian casualties, injuries, and property damage.

Kuwaiti authorities reported that debris from intercepted Iranian missiles and drones caused minor injuries to workers at the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery. Kuwaiti air defence systems reportedly intercepted several incoming projectiles, helping prevent further casualties.

The incident highlights the risks of airspace misidentification in a region where multiple allied and hostile forces are operating simultaneously. Analysts warn that such events could escalate tensions further, particularly as Iran continues targeting U.S. and allied military assets in the Gulf.

The ongoing conflict has prompted heightened security measures across Gulf states, including embassy alerts and travel advisories, as concerns grow over the potential for a broader regional confrontation.

Several U.S. Warplanes Crash in Kuwait Amid Ongoing Iranian Strikes

International

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 31 people in Lebanon, following renewed cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanese health authorities have confirmed.

The overnight Israeli raids targeted southern Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut, areas regarded as strongholds of Hezbollah. The Lebanon Ministry of Public Health said more than 100 people were injured, adding that the death toll could rise as several victims remain in critical condition.

Israel’s military said the attacks were aimed at Hezbollah infrastructure and senior operatives. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the strikes as a response to recent rocket and drone fire from Lebanese territory into northern Israel, which Israeli officials said posed a direct threat to civilian communities.

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Lebanese security sources reported that several senior Hezbollah figures were among those killed, though the group has not released an official list of casualties or confirmed the identities of the alleged commanders. Hezbollah has acknowledged losses but has so far withheld operational details.

Residents in Beirut’s southern districts reported multiple explosions before dawn, with thick plumes of smoke rising over residential and commercial areas. In towns close to the Israel–Lebanon border, emergency workers searched through rubble, while ambulances rushed the wounded to hospitals already under severe strain.

The latest escalation follows days of rising tension along the Israel–Lebanon frontier, marked by near-daily exchanges of fire. Hezbollah has said its cross-border attacks are retaliation for Israeli military actions elsewhere in the region, while Israel has warned it will not tolerate sustained threats to its northern border.

Security analysts warn the latest violence risks dragging Lebanon deeper into a widening regional confrontation, at a time when the country is battling economic crisis, political instability, and overstretched public services.

Despite intensifying international calls for restraint, both sides have placed security forces on heightened alert. With senior figures reportedly killed and retaliatory rhetoric hardening, fears are growing that the conflict could escalate further in the coming days.

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 31 in Lebanon as Hezbollah Loses Senior Figures

International

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles, Drones

Published

2 days ago

March 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles, Drones

Iran Retaliates: Gulf States Allied With US Hit by Missiles and Drones

Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia – Gulf nations allied with the United States have borne the brunt of Iranian missile and drone attacks in a dramatic escalation following US‑Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The offensive, launched by Iran over the weekend, has targeted both military and civilian infrastructure, causing casualties, property damage, and widespread concern across the region.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, its air defences intercepted 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones aimed at the Emirates, preventing larger-scale devastation. However, debris from interceptions has still caused property damage and civilian injuries, with at least three deaths confirmed. Airports and commercial areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai faced temporary closures as emergency measures were implemented.

Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have also reported missile and drone strikes, with UAE‑style interception efforts mitigating some of the damage. Civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, airports, and commercial facilities, sustained damage from falling debris. Local authorities confirmed that dozens of people were injured, some critically.

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The attacks follow Iran’s warning that it would retaliate against any US and Israeli military action. Iranian officials have denied targeting neighboring states directly, insisting that strikes are aimed at US forces and allies in the region. Nevertheless, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries condemned the attacks, describing them as violations of sovereignty and international law. They have coordinated with the United States to bolster defensive measures and prevent further civilian harm.

In Saudi Arabia, missiles were intercepted over Riyadh and the Eastern Province, prompting an official statement condemning the attacks as “blatant and cowardly.” Oman, traditionally neutral and mediating in nuclear talks, also experienced limited drone strikes on its commercial port at Duqm.

Regional and global responses have been swift. The United States and Israel continue their operations to degrade Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, while Gulf states brace for potential further escalation. Experts warn that continued attacks could destabilize energy markets, especially through key corridors like the Strait of Hormuz, and exacerbate political tensions in the region.

The ongoing crisis highlights the risks faced by Gulf allies of the US, who are now directly exposed to Iran’s military retaliation. Observers caution that while air defences have mitigated a large-scale catastrophe, prolonged conflict could have severe humanitarian, economic, and security consequences.