The capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada has dominated the headlines for weeks, as one of the most elusive figures in the world of drug-trafficking now faces judicial authorities in the U.S.
Zambada has pleaded not guilty to the 17 charges pressed against him in a New York court, and a former top DEA official has said it's highly unlikely he will cooperate in any way with authorities.
However, the Department of Justice has not lost it hopes, reportedly believing there are chances the drug lord could give information about high ranking Mexican officials involved in unlawful operations throughout the years.
That is according to specialized journalist Anabel Hernández, who, citing anonymous sources, said U.S. law enforcement is seeking for the "drug lord to give information about someone higher up." When she asked her source if that meant a Mexican president, she was told "that it the only thing higher than 'El Mayo.'"
However, Mike Vigil, the former Chief of International Operations for the DEA, told Mexican TV network El Financiero that El Mayo doesn't really have any incentives to help authorities in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
Considering U.S. authorities wouldn't offer a massive reduction of his sentence and he's 74-years-old and in poor health, "The U.S. has nothing to offer him," Vigil said.
"They will never offer less than 20 years. For him it's like life sentence. If he could get out in 10 or 20 years, if he was young and healthy, maybe he would seek a deal with federal prosecutors. But considering all those factors, I don't think he will collaborate," he added.
Vigil went on to say that Zambada, who reportedly has cancer, might not live more than "five or ten years." "Since he won't get less than 20 years in prison, it's life for him," he detailed. He also recalled that Zambada's former associated, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, never cooperated with the U.S. government, instead going to a trial where he was sentenced to life.
Zambada's current status is now in the hands of the U.S. justice system. According to the BOP's records, his release date is listed as "unknown," which underscores the complexities of his legal situation and the likelihood of a lengthy trial. His next hearing is set to take place on October 31.
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