Official announcements from Mexican law enforcement agencies

Mexican Authorities Detain 'El Chavo Félix' in Quilá, Culiacán, Key Sinaloa Cartel Figure and Son-in-Law of 'El Mayo' Zambada

Jan 19, 2025, 12:53 AM

Juan Carlos Félix Gastélum, known as 'El Chavo Félix,' and identified as the son-in-law of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, was detained on Saturday at 15:58 hours by elements of the National Guard and the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) in the town of Quilá, south of Culiacán, Sinaloa. The operation involved both ground and air forces, with military helicopters used in the area. Félix Gastélum, described as a man of approximately 1.88 meters tall, wearing a black polo shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots, is married to Teresa Zambada Ortiz, daughter of the imprisoned drug lord. He is considered a key figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, serving as a trusted lieutenant and security chief under Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as 'El Mayito Flaco.' The arrest is part of a broader strategy by the Mexican government to curb violence in the region, which has been escalating due to internal conflicts within the Sinaloa Cartel between factions led by the heirs of 'El Mayo' Zambada and those of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, both currently imprisoned in the United States. The capture of Félix Gastélum is seen as a significant blow to the organization, as he was listed as a priority target by the federal government.