Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the long-standing leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, is set to be arraigned in New York on a 17-count indictment that includes charges of narcotics trafficking and murder. Zambada, who has been sought by American law enforcement for over two decades, was taken into U.S. custody on July 25 after arriving in a private plane at an airport near El Paso alongside another fugitive cartel leader, Joaquín Guzmán López.
In a letter to the judge, prosecutors described Zambada as “one of the world’s most notorious and dangerous drug traffickers,” highlighting his use of military-grade weapons and private security forces to protect his drug empire. They also mentioned his involvement in ordering assassinations and kidnappings to maintain control within his organization.
If convicted on all charges, the 76-year-old Zambada could face a minimum sentence of life in prison and potentially the death penalty. Despite pleading not guilty to the charges during a previous court appearance in Texas, prosecutors have requested that he be detained permanently while awaiting trial.
Zambada’s unexpected arrest has triggered violence in Mexico, with clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel resulting in casualties. The unrest is believed to stem from conflicts between groups loyal to Zambada and those led by other sons of the imprisoned Sinaloa co-founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The circumstances surrounding Guzmán López’s surrender to U.S. authorities and his role in bringing Zambada with him remain unclear. Guzmán López is currently awaiting trial on separate drug trafficking charges in Chicago, where he has pleaded not guilty in federal court.
