Former Sinaloa Cartel Leaders 'El Chapo' and 'El Mayo' Reportedly Planned Retirement, Not Succession by Sons
Lucero Sánchez López, known as 'La Chapodiputada,' a former Mexican legislator and ex-partner of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, has revealed that both Guzmán and Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, former leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, had intentions of retiring from drug trafficking. According to Sánchez López, who is now a cooperating witness in the United States, they felt 'tired and old' and wished to step aside for new generations. However, they never discussed specific successors, and Guzmán explicitly did not want his own children involved in the drug trade. This revelation comes as the Sinaloa Cartel is reportedly experiencing internal conflict between its two main factions, 'La Chapiza' (led by Guzmán's sons) and 'La Mayiza' (aligned with Zambada). Sánchez López also shared personal anecdotes about Guzmán, including his dream of becoming a singer and joining the band Banda El Recodo, and an incident where she accidentally shot him in the ear during an argument.