Mexican forces captured a nephew of Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán during an operation, the Security Ministry reported Tuesday.
Identified as Isai “N,” he was arrested in the border state of Sonora and is wanted by U.S. authorities.
Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Security Secretary, stated on X that the detainee is a “nephew of ‘El Chapo,’” the former leader of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, who is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
Mexican media identified the suspect as Isai Martínez Zepeda, who had reportedly been arrested previously in June 2008 while in possession of high-caliber weapons.
According to a federal source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, Isai “N” is considered one of the operators of the Sinaloa Cartel and is accused of coordinating drug trafficking operations to the United States and Costa Rica.
The source added that he is allegedly responsible for “the sale of 10,000 fentanyl pills in the United States,” the drug linked to tens of thousands of deaths each year in that country.
An extradition request has reportedly been issued against him for organized crime and drug trafficking charges.
When questioned by AFP, authorities said they did not have details at the time regarding his previous arrest.
PRESSURE FROM THE UNITED STATES
Under threats of sanctions in the form of tariffs, the administration of Republican President Donald Trump has demanded that Mexico stop the flow of drugs into the United States, especially fentanyl.
The arrest comes at a time when Mexico is negotiating with the United States and Canada the review of the USMCA free trade agreement, a process that must conclude no later than July 1.
The White House has also designated several drug cartels as terrorist organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, which is currently involved in a violent internal conflict.
Two of “El Chapo’s” sons, Ovidio and Joaquín, are also imprisoned in the United States on drug trafficking charges.
According to U.S. media reports, Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo — two other sons of Guzmán who are also allegedly involved in the cartel — are reportedly negotiating their surrender to U.S. authorities.
Veteran drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who was once Guzmán’s partner in leading the cartel, is also imprisoned in the United States awaiting trial.
He was captured in July 2024 at an airport in El Paso, Texas, after arriving on a private plane, allegedly deceived by Joaquín Guzmán’s son.
After denouncing betrayal, factions loyal to Zambada — referred to by the press as “La Mayiza” — entered into an internal conflict with factions loyal to Guzmán’s sons, known as “Los Chapitos.”
In nearly two years, the violence has left more than 1,000 people dead in Sinaloa, which has also been plagued by robberies, kidnappings, and extortion.
56 TONS OF DRUGS SEIZED IN LATIN AMERICA
A coordinated police operation involving 19 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean led to the seizure of 3,308 illegal firearms and 56 tons of drugs, as well as the arrest of more than 8,700 people linked to arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and other crimes, Interpol reported Tuesday.
The operation, called “Orca XI,” lasted six weeks between October 15 and November 30, 2025, across countries in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean, with support from the Organization of American States (OAS), according to a statement issued by Interpol, headquartered in Lyon, France.
In addition to the confiscated firearms, security forces seized nearly 200,000 rounds of ammunition, $256,025 in cash, and 210 vehicles.
Interpol noted that illegal arms trafficking in the region is closely connected to other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and cybercrime.
During the operation, ten participating countries seized 6.9 tons of cocaine, 9.3 tons of coca paste, 38.5 tons of marijuana, 2 tons of methamphetamine, 11 kilograms of ketamine, and more than 659,000 coca plants.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza stated that the weapons removed from circulation and the quantity of drugs seized represent “real progress in the fight against organized crime.”
Meanwhile, Organization of American States Secretary General Albert R. Ramdin said the operation demonstrates that “international cooperation and information sharing produce results.”
Among the highlighted cases, Colombia reported the arrest of 22 individuals under investigation for terrorism financing and arms trafficking, while in Panama two suspects were arrested for smuggling firearms through courier and mail systems.
In Brazil, authorities dismantled a criminal network involved in drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons.
In Chile, an investigation led to the arrest of three people and the seizure of 580 kilograms of drugs valued at approximately $5.6 million, along with nine handguns. Authorities also froze 11 bank accounts linked to money laundering activities.
The operation involved Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Uruguay.
Source: msn
