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on the border line between the US and Mexico
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Sunday, April 24, 2016

The Man Who Runs The Sinaloa Cartel... With Or Without ‘El Chapo’

He was born in the countryside of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, entered the drug trade as a teenager and presides over what many believe is the hemisphere’s largest drug trafficking operation. But unlike recently recaptured drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera, he isn’t a household name.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, the man many believe to have the most control over the Sinaloa cartel, has spent five decades in the drug trade. While El Chapo is widely described as the cartel’s leader, that notion obscures the fact that Sinaloa operates more like a federation with multiple leaders who form something analogous to a board of directors.

Within that group, Zambada, 68, has likely risen to become the most powerful player. Unlike Guzmán, “El Mayo” Zambada hasn’t been sidelined by yearslong stints in prison.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada likely plays the strongest leading role in the Sinaloa cartel. 



When Guzmán was first jailed from 1993 to 2001, it was Zambada who oversaw the Sinaloa cartel’s continued expansion. It was Zambada who sent a private helicopter to whisk Guzmán to safety not too long after he slipped out of Puente Grande in a laundry basket, according to journalist Malcolm Beith’s 2010 book The Last Narco. And it was Zambada who facilitated Guzmán’s rise once again after his first escape.

Former head of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration international operations Mike Vigil, who spent 13 years working in Mexico, described Zambada as one of the most elusive drug lords whom Mexico has targeted.

“‘El Mayo’ Zambada” is one of the oldest capos still surviving in Mexico,” Vigil told The WorldPost. “He’s extremely highly respected by the drug trafficking community there. He has actually expanded the Sinaloa drug cartel operations since the time that ‘El Chapo’ was in jail.”

Born in the Sinaloa hamlet of El Alamo, Zambada began life as a farmer, in a state blanketed with illicit poppy and marijuana fields. Early in his criminal career, he also worked as a hitman in Ciudad Juárez, according to Beith. He rose to the leadership of the Sinaloa cartel when he was in his 40s.

Part of the reason people know less about Zambada is that he keeps a low profile. In one unusual exception, he arranged an interview in 2010 with Julio Scherer García, the former director of Mexican magazine Proceso.


A 2003 billboard posted in Southern Arizona offers a reward for information leading to the arrest of Zambada.

He described living in constant fear of getting caught. Zambada said that at least four times the military had gotten close enough to nab him.

“I fled to the hills,” Zambada said. “I know the foliage, the streams, the rocks, everything. They’ll only catch me if I slow down and get sloppy, like El Chapo.”

Though Zambada had sought out Scherer, the drug lord declined to answer questions about his first-born son, Vicente. Known by his diminutive nickname, “Vicentillo” Zambada was arrested in Mexico in 2009 and extradited to the United States the next year on drug trafficking charges. His case caused an uproar when his lawyer contended that Vicentillo Zambada couldn’t be charged with drug trafficking because he was simultaneously working as an informant for the DEA.

The DEA and Department of Justice both denied extending him immunity and the case was resolved in 2013, when Vicentillo Zambada accepted a plea deal and ceded more than $1 billion worth of assets.

“I’m not going to talk about my boy,” Zambada told Scherer in 2010. “I cry for him.”

Mexican authorities present Vicente Zambada, “El Mayo” Zambada’s son, to the press after his arrest in 2009. He was extradited to the United States, where he is in prison.

Though he doesn’t command the same international brand recognition as “El Chapo,” Zambada has long attracted the attention of U.S. law enforcement. President George W. Bush added him to the list of sanctioned foreign nationals under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act in 2002. He faces indictment in several jurisdictions across the United States for charges including drug trafficking, money laundering and homicide.

That fact that the Sinaloa cartel retains such a prominent leader causes many analysts to think the organization will continue to thrive despite Guzmán’s arrest. The recapture also isn’t likely to provoke the splintering and in-fighting associated with the decapitation of smaller cartels.

“Most of the time violence does increase after the government arrests or kills the leader of a criminal group,” Brian Phillips, a professor who researches organized crime and violence in Mexico, told HuffPost. “With Sinaloa [cartel] it’s a little different because it’s a very established group and there’s a second leader, ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, running the show. So you’re more likely to see continuity and stability.”

Despite his vaunted position, Zambada appears to view himself as a replaceable element in a vast machine. Echoing words El Chapo said in a video recording sent to Rolling Stone, Zambada told Scherer in 2010 that the day he died or was captured, the traffic would continue without him.

“The problem of drug trafficking involves millions [of people],” Zambada said. “How do you control that? As for the drug lords, whether they’re locked up, killed or extradited, their replacements are already there lurking.”

Source The Huffington Post

66 comments:

  1. El mayo no es de Sinaloa, Sinaloa es suyo.

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    1. Asi es compita arriba la gente del mayo y del chapo ajuua atte el morronis de la palma navolato sinaloa ajuua.

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  2. Who's the old guy with him in the photo?Is that Mayo's father or does anyone know?

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    1. Canadiana; The old guy is Julio Scherer Garcia, not only the ex-director of Proceso, but it's founder. The photo was taken at the interview with Mayo at Scherer's request (much like Sean Penn/Chapo photo) to prove the authenticity of the interview.

      Another similarity to the Penn/Chapo interview was that Scherer was criticized by critics, as Penn was, for doing an interview with a criminal. But Scherer had a better answer to his critics than Penn;
      He said "If the Devil invited me for an interview I would go to Hell to do it".
      The full interview can be viewed on BB at
      http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2013/04/el-mayos-bad-night-and-proceso-interview.html
      It's a good read.

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    2. I hope the royal canadian mounted police and interpol are monitoring this blog.

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    3. O thanks for that info DD.

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    4. Proceso is in the blacklist for being corrupted news source one of many in the the world journalism association .their under invevestigation now.reason scherer was critiziced because rumor is theyre on mayo and azuls payroll info was leaked scherer got a big payload for that interveiw from mayo and they where first to annonce azuls death real fishy news source

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    5. 3:18 and if they are "monitoring" what?
      --But somebody is monitoring, that is for sure, we are too "popular"

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  3. Mayo Zambada always was el Jefe

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  4. Chapo who, chapo the snitch that is hated by all of Mexico especially sinaloa

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    1. U must have never been to sinaloa they hate him so much that they celebrate every time he escapes is that hate?

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    2. No Sinaloa worships chapo

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    3. Sinaloa loves him he's a "Robin Hood" and he never snitched.

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  5. Mayo Zambada respected even by his own enemies

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    1. Vicentillo, el gordo and serafin all in u.s prison system, el miado zambada must be a proud dad! It must be nice to hide behind your own children, smdh..

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    2. Los 3 zambadas prisioneros Saldran en menos 5 anos d prison. Luego saldran libres d cargos de us y mx.
      De regreso a sinaloa a Seguir traficando mas FueRte k nunca a traficando.
      Not to bad 5 years for been the biggest drug dealers of the world.
      Would be free to enjoy millions and be free.
      Just like OCHOAS brothers did in the pass inn COLOMBIA.

      OCHOAS COLOMBIAN ZAMBADAS MEXICO
      THE 2 smartest family in Colombia business history. Most members of the families free enjoyed money that they could never finish

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    3. Just because su hijos got sloppy don't blame el mayo.

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    4. Vicentillo is gonna do at least 15 years , i have no idea of what 5 years you are talking about.by the time he comes out he will be brain fried talking to himself by spending so many lonely nights in a 6x4

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    5. AnonymousApril 24, 2016 at 2:42 PM What are you talking about? They still have crimes in Mexico to pay for. Remember Javier Torres Felix? Were is he now?

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  6. Mayo Zambada the Don of all the Don's

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  7. Everyone is happy chapo got caught like the Rat he is

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    1. 11:21 Do you even know any of those two individuals, to be hating on one, then be cheering for the other, are you a narc yourself?

      That many comments just from you, how many did you post 5,6, maybe more? All for what.

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    2. @7:03 And you don't know how many of his didn't get posted. A bunch.

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    3. hopped up on his own stash.......?

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    4. I don't even respect drug lords but El Chapo never snitched.

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  8. The thousand headed hydra lives forever. - El Sol Perdido

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    1. Even after all 1,000 heads are cut off?

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    2. 10:26 dicen que le salen otras 1 000, yo mas bien creo que es puro pedo, se jumaron la cicuta en los tiempo de la mitologia griega...

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    3. It seems like a modern day version of it. One big fish is caught only 2 have another spring up in it's place. It's never ending. - El Sol Perdido

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    4. Just as I suspected. No learning in history because it doesn't "seem" -it is a later day invention.

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  9. I thought someone in another posting here on BB said this Zambada carachter was rummored to be on the brink of mental collapse. It seems the pressure to keep this drug shit running smoothly was finnaly catching up to him! Whatever the case may be CDS nuthuggers will cheer him like they always do and then claim just like this article that he is not necessary in this cartel if he should be captured or eliminated!

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    1. Y pasan y pasan los anos y el mz ordenando

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    2. Pasan y pasan los años y el mayo zambada escondido como rata en los cerros, pinche vida de perro. Con todos sus crias enserrados, que infierno de vida, chale.

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    3. Es la verdad, no es que tenga tanto poder o inteligencia el mayo. Mas bien no sale del cerro. Hay capos que no aguantan eso y se rifan en la ciudad y por eso los capturan. La gente piensa que tiene tanta inflencia pero no puede andar tranquilo ni en culiacan! Ni tampoco en el salado su mera tierra donde atraparon al mayito gordo. Algunos prefieren 10 años de lujos y placer, otros 50 de miseria pero ser libre y pensar en el encierro de tus hijos esta cabron. Como le ara el mayo para seguir adelante, yo creo que no duerme.tranquilo ya el viejillo.

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    4. La Vida de reyes se an dado. 5 anos y libres de nuevo a sinaloa a gastar millones d dollar k gamas se podran termina.
      DON MAYO ase muchos bien a sinaloa sin aser tanto mitote.
      40 anos trafficando al novel del no cuaquier cabron los vive libre.
      Y el hombre nI esta Escondido se pasea en camioneta PORCHE CAYENNE Como sin nada.

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  10. with or without. money-making continues!

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  11. Hey Tex I wrote this post on the forum and put in those pics. Don't give credit to someone else.

    NAJ

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    Replies
    1. Sorry NAJ I didn't get this story from you, I got it from the source below. I left the BB FORUM about 2 years ago and I don't go there not even to read the articles.

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    2. Did Huffington Post got this article from you?

      Send me the link to your post.

      Delete
  12. He did not say like el chapo he said chapo had gotten close to capture more times not sloppy

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  13. I am Old. May Mayo have good retirement. just pay the PRI

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  14. We know there is always one waiting in the wing. Still don't change things . Americans want what he dreads most , his sorry Mexican ass in our prison . Bet we have him before its over with . The only ones of these sorry bastards that die of old age is the ones that get old in U.S prisons . Send him to prison or send him to hell . Either , it don't matter to me .

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    1. No los gringos solo quiere cristal, cocaina y mota de Mayo. Todos los Dias- 24/7 americanos make him richer and richer. America is the problom for they drug problem.

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    2. Sorry my friend nothing will happen to El Mayo. He is untouchable because of his work the US Feds. He has a free pass and so does his sons for giving up Chapo.

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    3. Nope.its mexicans who choose to sell drugs.

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    4. El Mayo is already in his 70's by the way he's most likely just going to die of old age without getting captured.

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  15. Wow this guy is a legend im not suprised those brave man born in the sierra madre of sinaloa have lots of balls and brains , since caro quintero to amado carrillo all from sinaloa all the way to sir chapo guzman and now the godfather of the drug world sinaloense haters hate the true
    -Ms italy -

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    1. asi es parcero es como medellin colombia mijo la cuna de los grandes capos de la droga pese a quien le pese medillin i sinaloa papa en la cima parce tierra de hombres berracos Don Pablo escobar gaviria i Don Chapo los mas grandes de la historia

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    2. Don't forget Don Arturo Beltran Leyva even thought he was staring death right in the face0ver 200 Mexican Marines) he still tossed a coin and risked it now that's a brave man.

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    3. Y en michoacan La Tuta y el chayo ajuaa..tierra de hombres muy huevudos.
      -La perla de peru-

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    4. La tuta y el chayo hombres muy secuestradores

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  16. "Vicentillo Zambada accepted a plea deal and ceded more than $1 billion worth of assets."

    And people still question whether El Mayo was the bigger boss. If his son had to cough up a billion imagine how much money he is worth.

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  17. Chapo still runs da show from Altiplano.

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    1. Del altiplano de Plano se les polo el chapito Guzman dios lo cuide y lo proteja

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  18. All that money but can't even enjoy it, has to hide all the time. The real big bosses are in the government and don't have to hide. Not one president is from Sinaloa. So all that talk of sinaloas being super smart is not true. They are just to lazy to work or go to school so they deal drugs. They get killed or go to prison and family and friends getting killed left and right. What a marvelous life. Smh It was easy before but now there is too much competition with more cartels in Mexico. Only ones that win is the government that let capos deal drugs but with a high price $ and they never go to prison or are investigated...

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    1. Dog..hes old school..he doesnt need to be ridin on a Ferrari or Lambo to show off his money..For what I know..dude owns lands n shitload of cattle..he owns race horses that are worth $4 million dollars..even companies in the U.S...all his family is set for many generations..what the fuck is u talkin bout willis??!!

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    2. He's not hiding, he paid the Mexican government a bunch of $$ so they won't go after him. But once uncle Sam wants his cut he will get captured but most likely he paid his dues to the DEA. even El Vicentillo said he was working with the DEA on court docunents. Vicentillo gave U.S a billion. But if he ever runs out of money or clout. He will get captured like chapo too.

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  19. Did Julio Scherer ever get questioned like Castillo did by the Mex Gov??

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  20. I think that El Mayo didn't help the government find Chapo. I think he wouldn't have known were Chapo was. But I suspect he was willing to have the authorities take him down. Chapo must have been hoping that things would calm down if he could just stay in hiding for another 6 months or so but his political protection couldn't help because their was so much pressure to catch him. Mayo on the other hand wasn't being sought after as much. Chapo's faction might be crumbling now idk but Mayo seems strong. Murders in Sinaloa dropped by HALF in March that's almost unheard of idk why but some agreement has been made within the cartel.

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  21. It's funny that nobody knows much of anything about mayos beginnings. Everyone writes the same thing but not much about his upbringing, his work before trafficking, his rise within the drug underworld, his investments inside and out of trafficking. The man is an enigma, seems to me he's connected to a higher source or power that all his comrads.

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  22. I wonder how much money el mayo really has

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  23. CDS runs Mexico !
    El Chapo / El Mayo /El Azul /El Lic .
    Los jefes Los Patrones ...Rafeal Caro Quintero also ..
    Atte El GaFe del Alto Mando

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    1. Then you woke up. If they owned Mexico CDS would be controling all plazas in Mexico and actually would take out zetas or beltranes. B.s.

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  24. El guero Palma is about to get out.does anybody have any theory as to what role Wil he take

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    1. He's going to join forces with cjng

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