Sinaloa Cartel co-founder ‘El Mayo’ taken into US custody

The Mexican drug kingpin Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as "El Mayo," who co-founded the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel was taken into custody in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice.

Also taken into custody was Juaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of the cartel's other co-founder, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

"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," U.S. Attorney General Merick B. Garland said. "Ismael Zambada Garcia, or ‘El Mayo,’ cofounder of the Cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of its other cofounder, were arrested today in El Paso, Texas." 

Zambada Garcia and now-jailed drug lord "El Chapo" founded the Sinaloa Cartel.

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"El Mayo," who the Department of Justice was offering a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction, now faces a litany of indictments for crimes related to drug trafficking and organized crime in the United States.

In February, U.S. federal prosecutors charged Zambada Garcia with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, which U.S. officials say is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.

The superseding indictment extended the dates of previous indictments from May 2014 to January 2024, and at the time it was filed, Zambada Garcia was at large.

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Guzman was convicted by a federal grand jury in Brooklyn in February 2019 and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years.

Zambada Garcia continued to evade capture and allegedly continued to run the Sinaloa Cartel from Mexico, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in February.

According to the superseding indictment, Zambada Garcia, from 1999-2024, led a continuing enterprise responsible for the importation and distribution of massive quantities of narcotics, which generated billions of dollars in profits.

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In his efforts to ensure the cartel remained successful, Zambada Garcia allegedly employed individuals to obtain transportation routes and warehouses to import and store narcotics and "sicarios," or hit men, to carry out kidnappings and murders in Mexico to retaliate against rivals who threatened the Sinaloa Cartel.

The millions of dollars generated from the operation were then transported back to Mexico.

"El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable in the United States. That includes the Cartel’s other cofounder, Joaquin Guzman Loera, or ‘El Chapo’; another of El Chapo’s sons and an alleged Cartel leader, Ovidio Guzman Lopez; and the Cartel’s alleged lead sicario, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, or 'El Nini.'" Garland said. "Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, and the Justice Department will not rest until every single cartel leader, member, and associate responsible for poisoning our communities is held accountable."

In light of Guzman’s trial conviction, his name has been removed from the superseding indictment against Zambada Garcia.

Reuters contributed to this report.

WWE legend Hulk Hogan has Super Bowl aspirations for Lions after surprise camp visit: 'I predict greatness'

If there’s anyone who can bring energy to a football field like WWE legend Hulk Hogan, it’s Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. 

They got to meet at Lions training camp Wednesday with Hogan fresh off his speech at the Republican National Convention. 

After sizing up Campbell and talking with him, Hogan told reporters he expects great things in Detroit this season. 

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He even believes Campbell "missed his calling" by choosing football for a career. 

"I predict greatness for this team. I might be the new mascot, brother, might just have to lead the charge," Hogan explained, via MLive.com. "Oh, [Campbell’s] got the it factor all right. I just wish he would have been my tag-team partner. He’s so full of it, I’d let him do all the work in the ring and beat the guys up, then give me the tag. I’d drop the leg and steal all the glory. 

"Yeah, he could have been a wrestler, no doubt. He might have missed his calling."

Hogan was asked what Campbell’s wrestling name could’ve been, and "Dirty Dan" came to mind. He also said "Dirty Dan" would have fans going crazy for "Campbell Mania," an ode to his own "Hulkamania."

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And is it really a Hulk Hogan visit without a WWE promo? Hogan, with Campbell on his left, looked into the cameras and started to riff like he was ready to get into the ring. 

"My new tag-team partner, Campbell Mania, brother, is going to run wild this year," said Hogan, wearing a Honolulu blue bandana to match the Lions’ team color. "Super Bowl, nothing but greatness, nothing but victory. So, whatcha gonna do when the Detroit Lions and Campbell Mania runs wild on you, brother? Whatcha gonna do?!"

Hogan, a 12-time world champion in WWE and WCW, might be right when talking about the Super Bowl.

The Lions won the NFC North for the first time since 1993 with an impressive 12-5 record last season. But that success didn’t stop once they got to the playoffs. Campbell’s squad reached the NFC title game. 

The San Francisco 49ers battled back in the second half of that game to reach the Super Bowl. Campbell decided to go for it on two crucial fourth downs, both of which were in field goal range, and it didn’t work out in the end. 

However, the Lions doubled down on their support of their head coach, who trusted his offense all season in fourth-and-short situations. 

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