By Ricardo Lezama 
Thursday, July 25 marked one of the most important moments in the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico: the capture of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada in the city of El Paso, Texas. An event that has not only shaken the Sinaloa Cartel, but also promises to unleash revelations with the potential to shake up Mexico’s political structure.
In recent interviews, Esquivel has detailed how Zambada’s son, Jesus Vicente Zambada Niebla, known as “El Vicentillo,” had already exposed to US authorities the cartel’s internal operations, including bribes to politicians, police, and governors. Despite his confessions, authorities never managed to arrest “El Mayo”. This inability of the U.S. justice system to capture the capo, even with detailed information, reinforces the hypothesis of the existence of extremely powerful protection networks.
The implications of Zambada’s arrest are immense. If ‘El Mayo’ decides to collaborate with the authorities, the revelations about bribery and corruption could unmask prominent figures in the Mexican political spectrum. One of the most affected by this eventuality would be the administration of former President Felipe Calderon (2006-2012), during whose term in office the fight against drug trafficking intensified dramatically, albeit with questionable results.
One of the most controversial cases during Calderón’s administration involved his Secretary of Public Security, Genaro García Luna, who was arrested in December 2019 in the United States on charges of corruption and ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. The allegations indicate that García Luna had received million-dollar bribes to allow the cartel to operate with impunity. Calderon, while denying any knowledge of these activities, has been unable to avoid questions about the transparency of his administration.
Zambada’s pending declarations could also place corruption deeper into the Mexican political system, not only affecting Calderon, but also other prominent politicians involved in this network.
The surrender of the Sinaloa cartel kingpin represents not only a triumph in the war against drug trafficking, but a crucial opportunity to reveal the collusion between organized crime and the Mexican political apparatus. This complicity has allowed the cartels to operate with surprising freedom, wreaking havoc in both Mexico and the United States.
It is impossible to foresee the full scope of the revelations that may emerge. However, the capture of “El Mayo” Zambada is an open door to a truth that many in power have tried to keep closed. If the rumors and testimonies are confirmed, we could be witnessing the beginning of a significant change in how organized crime is confronted in Mexico and, potentially, a regeneration of the political system that has allowed its proliferation. The story is ongoing, and the outcome is yet to be written.
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