Following the arrest of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents of Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, there have been comparisons to Pablo Escobar, who led the Medellín Cartel in Colombia.
Both men amassed great power through their criminal organizations, but their operations occurred in different eras.
According to an interview with Mike Vigil, former head of International Operations at the DEA, “It is not possible to compare Mayo Zambada and Pablo Escobar.”
Mayo Zambada and Pablo Escobar: No Comparison, Says DEA
Mike Vigil believes that comparing the two would be like “trying to put on a scale a high-performance athlete against a young person who is just starting to play sports.”
Pablo Escobar’s business was solely based on cocaine trafficking, while Ismael “Mayo” Zambada trafficked multiple substances, including cocaine, heroin, marijuana, methamphetamine, and was also a major producer of fentanyl.
Additionally, the Sinaloa Cartel has a presence on several continents, while the Medellín Cartel focused its business on drug trafficking to the United States and Latin American countries.
Ismael, El Mayo Zambada, arrested in the United States (especial)
Mayo Zambada and Pablo Escobar: Violence Comparison
Mike Vigil believes that Pablo Escobar is not comparable to Ismael “Mayo” Zambada in terms of violence.
Pablo Escobar was known for his extreme violence, causing terror in Colombia.
Therefore, it is considered that Pablo Escobar was much more violent than Ismael “Mayo” Zambada.
Pablo Escobar (Especial)
With information from Infobae Mexico.