Federal forces raided properties linked to the Sinaloa Cartel's 'La Mayiza' cell in El Álamo, Sinaloa, on March 19, 2026, killing 11 presumed criminals, seizing weapons and vehicles, and arresting one suspect. Mónica Zambada Niebla, daughter of cartel leader 'El Mayo' Zambada, was briefly detained with a minor and released due to no judicial warrants in Mexico or the U.S., despite prior OFAC sanctions. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch detailed the operation and release during President Claudia Sheinbaum's briefing on March 20.
On March 19, 2026, around 4:00 a.m., the Security Cabinet, including personnel from the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) and Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), conducted a land and air operation in the El Álamo community, El Salado district, south of Culiacán, Sinaloa. The target was the 'La Mayiza' cell, a Sinaloa Cartel faction led by Ismael Zambada Sicairos, alias 'El Mayito Flaco,' son of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García.
During inspections of multiple properties, authorities located Mónica del Rosario Zambada Niebla (born March 2, 1980), one of four daughters of 'El Mayo' and Rosario Niebla Cardoza—alongside sisters María Teresa (1969), Midiam Patricia (1971), and Modesta (1982)—accompanied by a minor. She was held momentarily for safety and to verify her legal status. The operation resulted in a clash killing 11 presumed Los Mayos members, the arrest of Omar Oswaldo Torres, alias 'El Patas' or 'El 19' (transferred to Culiacán and then Mexico City), and seizures of firearms, stolen vehicles, and explosive devices.
On March 20, during President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conference, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch explained: 'In one of the properties we found this person, Mónica del Rosario ‘N’, with another minor; she was never arrested, she was momentarily under custody, first to safeguard the safety of everyone present and to verify if she had any judicial order here in Mexico or in the United States, she has no judicial order in Mexico or the United States.' He noted her 2007 designation by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged involvement in Sinaloa Cartel money-laundering firms, such as Nueva Industria de Ganaderos de Culiacán SA de CV (Leche Santa Mónica), Establo Puerto Rico SA de CV, Jamaro Constructores SA de CV, Multiservicios Jeviz SA de CV, Estancia Infantil Niño Feliz SC, and Rosario Niebla Cardoza A. en P., but emphasized this is an administrative measure, not judicial. Some sources report the sanctions were lifted in 2019. With no arrest warrants confirmed, she was released and handed over to her family in accordance with protocols. No formal investigation exists against her in Mexico. The incident is part of broader actions against organized crime in the region.
