On Thursday, the Justice Department declared that two suspected leaders of the famed Sinaloa Cartel from Mexico, one of whom was the son of the infamous drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, had been captured in Texas. Jose Garcia and Ovidio Guzman’s arrests are part of a more significant attempt to shut down the cartel’s activities in the US.
“The Justice Department has taken into custody two additional alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world,” officials said in a press release.
A concerted effort involving federal and state law enforcement agencies resulted in the detention of Garcia and Guzman. The two men are charged with being critical players in the drug trafficking and violent operations of the cartel. Authorities claim that Garcia and Guzman have been in charge of the violent trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of drugs into the United States.
“Garcia and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of drugs into the United States, along with related violence,” the release stated. “Their capture represents a significant step in our ongoing efforts to disrupt the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel and bring its leaders to justice.”
Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman established the Sinaloa Cartel, which has long been regarded as one of the most potent and dangerous drug trafficking groups in the world. El Chapo’s sons and other senior members have led the cartel in its continuous operations since his arrest and extradition to the United States.
Ovidio Guzman, popularly known as “El Ratón,” rose to prominence in October 2019 after being briefly imprisoned by Mexican authorities and then being freed after a violent retaliation from cartel members. This episode demonstrated the cartel’s enormous dominance and authority in Mexico.
The recent arrests are anticipated to affect the cartel’s activities significantly. Experts warn that despite these losses, the organization is still strong and able to adjust. The United States government has promised to keep up its efforts to take down criminal organizations that endanger public safety and fight drug trafficking.
Garcia and Guzman are being investigated on several allegations, including money laundering, drug trafficking, and involvement in violent crimes. It is anticipated that they will face the harshest legal consequences possible.
