Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the leaders of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, is set to appear this Friday in a courtroom in the Eastern District of New York to face 17 drug trafficking charges. The hearing, presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Cho, is set to start at 10 a.m. ET.
Although Magistrate Judge James R. Cho's name is in official court papers, the audience is expected to be presided over by Judge Brian Cogan, who was El Chapo's judge. Cogan was also the magistrate who presided over the trial of Genaro García Luna, the former Mexican Secretary of the Interior, in New York in 2023. García Luna was found guilty of several drug trafficking charges, although he is still awaiting his final sentencing.
Zambada, who led the cartel for decades without being captured until now, was transferred from El Paso, Texas, after being arrested in July 2024 alongside Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous "El Chapo" Guzmán. He was reportedly lured to the U.S. under false pretenses by Guzmán López, without the knowledge of the Mexican government. After rejecting to be transferred to New York, he suddenly changed his heart and agreed. A specialized journalist said this week it was a result of getting credible death threats by an opposing carte.
The charges against El Mayo
Zambada, who is 76 years old, faces charges in New York that include conspiracy to manufacture and distribute large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to smuggle them into the United States.
According to a document revealed by the New York Attorney's Office, the plan is to ask the judge to "order the permanent detention of the defendant pending trial, as there are no conditions that guarantee "the safety of the community or the defendant's appearance at trial if released."
For years, the United States offered up to 15 million dollars for his capture.
His indictment is part of a long-running effort by U.S. law enforcement to dismantle the leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is considered one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations in the world. This case represents a significant move in the ongoing battle against the cartel's global operations.
The Sinaloa Cartel, under his leadership, remains a major player in the distribution of fentanyl, a drug responsible for a devastating opioid crisis in the U.S. Law enforcement officials are committed to bringing Zambada to justice, just as they did with his former partner, "El Chapo." The trial is expected to draw significant media attention, given Zambada's status and the scale of his criminal activities.
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