Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the powerful and longtime leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, is set to be arraigned in New York on Friday. He faces a 17-count indictment accusing him of narcotics trafficking and murder, CNN reports.
Zambada, sought by American law enforcement for over two decades, has been in US custody since July 25. He was reportedly flown into an airport outside El Paso, Texas, in a private plane accompanied by fellow cartel fugitive Joaquín Guzmán López, son of imprisoned Sinaloa co-founder “El Chapo” Guzmán.
In a letter to the judge, Zambada claims he was forcibly kidnapped in Mexico and brought to the US against his will by Guzmán López. However, US prosecutors in Brooklyn have requested Zambada be detained permanently pending trial. If convicted on all charges, the 76-year-old faces a minimum sentence of life in prison and is eligible for the death penalty.
Prosecutors describe Zambada as “one of the world’s most notorious and dangerous drug traffickers,” outlining his extensive network and ruthless tactics. They allege he maintained a vast arsenal of military-grade weapons, a heavily armed private security force, and a cadre of “sicarios” (hitmen) responsible for assassinations, kidnappings, and maintaining control over his drug trafficking empire spanning Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and beyond. The indictment includes accusations of Zambada ordering the murder of his own nephew just months ago.
Zambada pleaded not guilty to the charges in an earlier court appearance in Texas. However, his surprise arrest has ignited violent clashes between rival factions within the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. Gunfights have resulted in multiple fatalities, forcing school and business closures in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa. The fighting is believed to stem from a power struggle between factions loyal to Zambada and those led by other sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The motives behind Guzmán López’s surrender to US authorities and his decision to bring Zambada with him remain unclear. Guzmán López is currently awaiting trial on separate drug trafficking charges in Chicago, where he has also pleaded not guilty.
