Why does the fall of “El Mayo” Zambada mark the beginning of the era of narcojuniors?

The specialist in drug trafficking and organized crime, Jose Luis Montenegrowarns that with the fall of Ishmael “The May” Zambadaco-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, begins the era of the narcojuniors and explains the changes on the criminal chessboard in Mexico.

The historic arrest on Thursday, July 25, 2024 in El Paso, Texas, marks the end of an era and the beginning of another in the world of Mexican drug trafficking, as it is the cartel in the country that exports the most drugs, perhaps also worldwide.

And the split of one of the two most powerful cartels in Mexico It gives way to the empowerment of a new generation of criminals who began their criminal activities before reaching the age of 30, but who would now be at the head of one of the most powerful cartels in the world: Los Chapitos.

So, the children of the old guard bosseswhose cartel grew after the breakup of the Guadalajara Cartel, They went from being mafia apprentices to heirs to criminal power in Mexico, which consolidates the era of the narcojuniors, he assured Infobae the writer too.

Although they were not the only ones narcojuniors who began to gain relevance due to the power of their parents, “The Chapitos”, The sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán have climbed the national criminal map since his last arrest in 2016 and his subsequent extradition to the United States.

Why does the fall of “El Mayo” Zambada mark the beginning of the era of narcojuniors?

And not only did they face enemies, they also distanced themselves from allies to demonstrate their power and command one of the three factions of the Sinaloa Cartel; However, their role as leaders could change the national criminal map.

“Now Let’s see the rise of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar like the fpredominant and preponderant figure in organized crime.

“And we will see if he is alia with other organizations such as the Gulf Cartel or the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

“Let’s see if he makes a pact with Nemesio ‘The Mencho’ “Oseguera Cervantes”: José Luis Montenegro.

READ: Why would Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, son of “El Chapo,” be the dominant drug trafficker under Sheinbaum?

The Sinaloa Cartel and the era of the narcojuniors.

José Luis Montenegro, journalist and author of the book Los Chapitos: A criminal x-ray of the heirs of the Sinaloa Cartelspoke about the era of the narcojuniors and the future of the Sinaloa Cartel Now that its founders and leaders are dead or in prison:

• “El Chapo” Guzman
• “The May” Zambada
• Hector “The White Palma”
• Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno
• Rafael Caro Quintero

The negotiation of the narcojuniors in Mexico for the control of the criminal market

For Montenegro, Ivan Archivaldo, as the most powerful leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, could negotiate with the other two factions: the one commanded by his uncle “The Guano” and the one that was left in the hands of Ismael Zambada Sicairos, “Skinny Mayito”now that his parents are already facing American justice.

Montenegro considers that Nowadays, there are no longer disputes between cartels for control of entire territories.as it did in previous decades and in wars that pitted Los Zetas against the Gulf Cartel; the Juarez Cartel against Sinaloa; the Beltran Leyva against Sinaloa; or the Arellano Felix against Sinaloa. But now the war is by zones.

READ: WSJ warns of war in Mexico between “El Mayo” Zambada and “Los Chapitos”

He warns that criminal groups are now trying to compete only between two sides: the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNGso we could see in the near future alliances and pacts for groups such as “Los Chapitos”, the Caborca ​​Cartel, “Los Mayitos”, “Los Guanos”, among others, to join other organizations for their territorial expansion.

“We will see who will reign supreme in this criminal monopoly: the CJNG or the Sinaloa Cartel in its various offshoots led by young bosses who were once apprentices to mobsters and today inherit the criminal power of their parents.

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