The power behind the throne: the story of "El Mayo" Zambada, the alleged leader of the Sinaloa cartel

While Joaquín "El Chapo", Guzmán waits for an eternity in prison, his former partner and friend, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, I would continue to stay afloat the cartel of sinaloa.

Zambada García, a humble Culiacán ranchSonora has stealthily become Mexico's oldest and most powerful capo.

"Son of the mountain"as he likes to define himself, he was a disciple of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo – partner of Pablo Escobar in the 80's and leader of the first Mexican cartel organization by the US government – he saw Amado Carrillo Fuentes fall, "The Lord of heaven" – of the cartel of Juarez in the 90s–, fought Arellano Felix– who continue to traffic in Tijuana, British Columbia– and helped escape from two maximum security prisons at "El Chapo" Guzmán, until recently, the only chief of the Sinaloa cartel.

His dynasty: six women, ten children and more than 15 grandchildrenHe did not suffer the same fate as he was murdered or extradited to prisons in North America. His son Vicente, who was sentenced by a judge in Illinois (USA), directed aircraft, ships, trains and trucks for importing medicine he had sent to the neighboring country. For its part, his brother Jesus aka "the king", cooperated with the Mexico City logistics via the international airport.

Heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine, are some of the drugs black market Zambada knows how to produce and transport around the world. The authorities "gringo" also attributed to the administration of legal activities such as milk, tuna, clothing, furniture, real estate and racing cars.

Although he is known for his discretion, it is common knowledge that in Sinaloa he has a ranch called "Puerto Rico"He was operated on and is accused of planning an attack on former president Felipe Calderón. He has more narcocorridos than any other trafficker and he confessed that he does not surrender, that's because "narco is in society, rooted as corruption. "

The Sinaloa agreement was consolidated in the 90's. Part of this power can be attributed to Zambada's ability to form alliances and coordinate with other former members of the organization. Cartel of Guadalajara.

According to the US Department, narco was a principal member of the Juarez cartel, which Amando Carrillo, "The Lord of the Rings".

Carrillo's death in 1997 helped the Sinaloa cartel absorb a lot of his fractions.

"Bush traffic "

What kind of drug you need to be to comply I am still tampering, to be alive and not to have entered prison? How to manage the largest cell in the country behind a mountain range?

Although it seems that Zambada has won the war, drug trafficking for more than 40 years, Without entering prison, the head of the capo has a price: 5 000 000 000 USD offered by the US government.

The authorities of this country They froze the businesses and bank accounts of your organization. Several of his relatives, including one of his children, are detained.

According to El Chapo's lawyers, his old friend would have managed to escape persecution for millionaire bribes at the highest point of the Mexican government.

In addition, US agencies suggest that "El Mayo" tends to act more as an entrepreneur than as a drug lord. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control states that the man was responsible for many financial operations of the Sinaloa cartel and, unlike other leaders, rarely uses violence.

A people in favor of drugs

Another narcos survival secret, such as "El Mayo", is the protection of the people. A few years ago, Zambada sponsored the festivities in El Álamo, a rancheria where he was born. One of her daughters owned a daycare and her wife, a milk distributor.

Providing jobs, safety, health and other services not covered by local authorities have allowed us to build a network of protection that often involves people in areas where they move.

The support of the population would be very low if "El Mayo" behaved differently for decades.

Although the narco to personal protection – strike men with weapons of war and an effective communication system – their profile is unobtrusive. The way of behaving differs from that of "Chapo" and in particular that of young people who take drugs in drug trafficking.

However, the accusations of his former partner (Joaquín Guzmán), who claim that Zambada is the true boss of the Sinaloa cartelthey placed it under the reflectors he always avoided.

Although at 70, the narco continues to run the Sinaloa cartel, your disease (diabetes) and age will not let him rule forever.

So we expect him to spend the last days of his life as he has done until now: locked up the mountains of the Sinaloa region.

"El Mayo" is one of the most astute drug traffickers that Mexico has generated.