A high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, Jose Angel Canobbio Inzunza, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Chicago on drug trafficking charges for allegedly conspiring with El Chapo’s sons to smuggle fentanyl and cocaine into the United States. Canobbio Inzunza served as an advisor and security chief for El Chapo’s son, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, and his three brothers. Authorities believe he became involved in the criminal underworld with the Guzman faction in 2002 and was sought under a U.S. arrest warrant for drug conspiracy, a crime punishable by life in federal prison.
The sons of El Chapo allegedly took over and led a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico following his arrest. Canobbio Inzunza supposedly conspired with the brothers to produce cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in Mexico and smuggle the drugs into the United States. He allegedly led an armed security faction known as “Los Chimales” that engaged in armed confrontations under his direction and provided security for the Guzman faction. Canobbio Inzunza faces federal charges and authorities believe he is currently in Mexico, where the investigation remains ongoing.
The Sinaloa Cartel is renowned as one of Mexico’s most potent and notorious drug trafficking organizations, significantly contributing to the influx of illicit narcotics into the United States. Recent incidents such as the jailing of Adolfo Zazueta-Bueno’s son, Brian Jesus Zazueta, following a raid that uncovered 42,000 fentanyl pills in an apartment, highlight the cartel’s ongoing presence and activities. Zazueta was sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug trafficking ring distributing drugs in Spokane and across Eastern Washington.
Originating in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, the Sinaloa Cartel is a vast and influential drug trafficking organization known for its role in the global drug trade. The cartel has a notorious history and has been involved in trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana on a large scale. Formed in the 1980s and 1990s following the splintering of the Guadalajara Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel gained prominence in the 1990s under the leadership of key figures like El Chapo, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, and Héctor “El Güero” Palma.
The cartel’s involvement in the drug trade has persisted for decades, with its influence extending beyond Mexico and into the United States and other countries. With powerful leaders and extensive criminal networks, the Sinaloa Cartel has remained a significant player in the illicit drug market. Authorities continue to investigate and pursue individuals connected to the cartel, such as Canobbio Inzunza and others involved in drug trafficking operations. The efforts to dismantle drug cartels like Sinaloa remain ongoing, with law enforcement agencies working to disrupt their activities and curb the flow of illegal narcotics.
