Who Runs The Sinaloa Cartel In 2024? The Power Struggle Explained

It’s important to note that Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of El Chapo, were not arrested by US authorities in El Paso, Texas on July 25, 2024. El Mayo Zambada remains at large and is considered the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. Joaquín Guzmán López was arrested in 2019 and extradited to the US.

While El Mayo Zambada remains the presumed leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, the organization has experienced a shift in power dynamics in recent years. El Chapo’s sons, known as Los Chapitos, have emerged as significant players, vying for control of the cartel’s vast drug trafficking network. These internal power struggles have resulted in a period of instability and violence within the organization, leading to a fragmented cartel structure.

The Sinaloa Cartel’s leadership remains a complex and fluid situation. El Mayo Zambada’s continued influence, combined with the growing power of Los Chapitos, suggests that the future of the organization will be shaped by a power struggle between these factions. It remains to be seen who will ultimately emerge as the dominant force within the Sinaloa Cartel.