A Mexican drug lord, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a top leader and co-founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, may be heading to trial in New York City after prosecutors filed a request to move him from Texas. Zambada, 76, has been indicted in multiple U.S. jurisdictions and faces charges including racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, murder conspiracy, and other crimes.
Zambada, who was arrested in the U.S. last month along with a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has appeared in federal court in El Paso, Texas, and prosecutors are seeking to transfer him to New York, where the elder Guzmán was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2019.
If the transfer is approved, the case against Zambada in Texas would proceed after the one in New York. Zambada, known for his role as a strategist and dealmaker within the Sinaloa cartel, has been described as a key figure in the organization's operations, particularly in drug trafficking to the United States.
Despite his long-standing involvement in the cartel, Zambada had never been incarcerated until his recent arrest in the U.S. His arrest has raised concerns about potential power struggles within the cartel, particularly with Guzmán's sons, known as the Chapitos. The Mexican government has deployed special forces soldiers to Sinaloa to prevent any violent conflicts within the cartel.
In a separate case, Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of 'El Chapo,' has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a federal court in Chicago. The Sinaloa cartel, under the leadership of Zambada and Guzmán, has expanded its operations from a regional presence to a major drug manufacturer and smuggler, including illicit fentanyl pills.
As legal proceedings unfold in both Texas and New York, the future of 'El Mayo' Zambada and the Sinaloa cartel remains uncertain, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to prevent further violence and criminal activities.
