The recent arrest of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada marks a significant turning point in the drug trafficking landscape between Mexico and the United States. This development signals the rise of a new generation of drug traffickers, led by Zambada’s former partners, Los Chapitos, and his son, Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as “Mayito Flaco.” These figures have gained prominence during the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
A Shift in Power Dynamics
In an interview with Infobae México before the arrests of Joaquín Guzmán López and El Mayo Zambada, renowned journalist Anabel Hernández provided insight into the changing dynamics within the Sinaloa Cartel. Hernández described how El Mayo feared Los Chapitos due to their formidable armed forces, which he lacked. She noted, “Mayito Flaco does not have the profile of his father to win this war against Los Chapitos. They are a new generation of drug traffickers who became powerful under the shadow of López Obrador.”
Hernández explained that Los Chapitos gained strength by supporting López Obrador’s political campaign since 2012, enabling them to expand their influence during his administration. As El Mayo Zambada faces health issues and advanced age, Hernández predicted an uncertain future for Mexico. She warned of an inevitable confrontation between El Mayo and Los Chapitos, a conflict postponed until now.
The Rise of New Cartel Leaders
In addition to Los Chapitos, other criminal organizations have strengthened their positions during López Obrador’s presidency. Data obtained by Guacamaya Leaks reveals that the Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) has been tracking brothers Johnny and José Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, known as “El Pez” and “El Fresa,” since 2015. These leaders of the Nueva Familia Michoacana have become some of the most wanted drug traffickers in Mexico and the United States.
In June, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned eight members of La Nueva Familia Michoacana and designated the organization, led by El Pez and El Fresa, as responsible for trafficking drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States through the Tamaulipas-Texas border.
The Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) has also solidified its status as one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations. While CJNG remains under the control of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, rumors about his health have elevated the profiles of younger figures within the cartel. Among them is Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias “El 03” or “El Pelón,” the son of Rosalinda González Valencia and stepson of El Mencho. He is poised to assume leadership in the event of El Mencho’s demise.
A New Era of Drug Trafficking
The arrest of Ismael Zambada García signifies the end of an era dominated by “old school” drug lords and heralds the rise of a new generation of younger, more violent traffickers. These emerging leaders are forging new alliances, with Los Chapitos at the forefront. Hernández remarked, “Since 2012, Los Chapitos bet on a horse that no one wanted to bet on, and when that horse won, they kept all the profits. Los Chapitos went from being poor, miserable people who were kidnapped, taken like kindergarten children in Puerto Vallarta (2016) by a minimal enemy like Mochomito (their cousin) and El Mencho, who didn’t know if they would survive, to these super powerful, super rich drug traffickers with a mega army.”