Joaquin “Chapo” Guzman, one of the richest cartel leaders in the world, was arrested Saturday morning in a hotel in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico according to U.S. officials. Guzman is the head of the ruthless Sinaloa drug cartel.
According to authorities, Guzman was arrested without incident just before 7 a.m. at a hotel in Mazatlán. According to Borderland Beat, the Mexican government implemented a massive search for both Ismael El Mayo Zambada and Guzmán after they learned he was attending a family reunion.
In the city of Culiacán last week, “at least 10 sicarios were arrested, among them “El 19,” identified as the personal security of “El Mayo” Zambada,” according to Borderland Beat.
Those arrested revealed that both drug lords were going to be attending the family reunion in Sinaloa this weekend, reported Borderland Beat.
According to an API report, “Mexican authorities arrested 13 other people and seized 97 rifles, 36 handguns, two grenade launchers, one rocket launcher, 43 vehicles of which 19 were armored, 16 houses and four ranches.”
The Associated Press reported that Guzman, 56, was found at the hotel with an unidentified woman.
Guzman and the Sinaloa Cartel were previously identified by the U.S. government as significant foreign narcotics traffickers pursuant to the Kingpin Act in 2001 and 2009, respectively.
In November 2013, the ADI reported that Serafin Zambada, 23, the son of “El Mayo” was arrested at the Nogales port of entry. Zambada was with his wife, who was eventually released from custody.
Serafin is a U.S. citizen. Serafin, aka “Sera” has been indicted for conspiracy to smuggle at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms of cocaine to the U.S.
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