A prominent Mexican drug cartel leader, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, 76, appeared in federal court in Texas for the second time after being apprehended by U.S. authorities last week. Zambada, known for his leadership of the Sinaloa cartel, was brought into custody alongside Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, when their plane landed near El Paso on July 25. Both individuals are facing charges related to drug crimes in the U.S.
During the recent court hearing in El Paso, discussions revolved around whether Zambada would be tried alongside his co-defendants or separately. Held without bond, Zambada pleaded not guilty and utilized a wheelchair during the proceedings. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 9, with his legal team opting not to provide comments following the hearing.
Attorney Frank Perez previously alleged that Zambada was forcibly taken to the U.S. by Guzmán López aboard a private aircraft. Guzmán López, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a federal court in Chicago earlier this week.
While “El Chapo” gained notoriety for his flamboyant persona, Zambada was believed to be more intricately involved in the day-to-day operations of the cartel. Zambada faces charges in multiple U.S. jurisdictions, including New York and California. In February, a new indictment was filed against him in New York, identifying him as the primary leader of the criminal enterprise responsible for importing substantial quantities of narcotics into the United States.
The arrests of Zambada and Guzmán López have sparked speculation regarding the methods employed by federal authorities in capturing them. The incident prompted Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to issue a public plea to drug cartels, urging them to refrain from engaging in violent conflicts with each other.
