Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the long-time leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, is set to be arraigned in New York on Friday on a 17-count indictment for narcotics trafficking and murder.
Zambada, sought by American law enforcement for over 20 years, has been in U.S. custody since July 25 when he arrived in a private plane at an airport near El Paso along with another fugitive cartel leader, Joaquín Guzmán López.
Claiming he was forcibly kidnapped in Mexico and brought to the U.S. by Guzmán López, Zambada stated in a letter his version of events.
Prosecutors in Brooklyn are requesting that Zambada be detained indefinitely as he awaits trial. If found guilty on all charges, Zambada, 76, could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
In a letter to the judge, prosecutors described Zambada as “one of the world’s most notorious and dangerous drug traffickers.” They detailed his use of military-grade weapons, private security forces, and hitmen to protect his drug empire.
Related Stories
Prosecutors also mentioned Zambada’s involvement in the murder of his own nephew recently.
Zambada previously pleaded not guilty to the charges in Texas.
His sudden arrest has sparked clashes in Mexico between rival factions within the Sinaloa cartel, resulting in fatalities. Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa, has witnessed violence, leading to the closure of schools and businesses. The conflicts are believed to be between Zambada’s loyal factions and those led by other sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The reasons behind Guzmán López’s surrender to U.S. authorities and bringing Zambada with him remain unclear. Guzmán López is now awaiting trial on separate drug trafficking charges in Chicago.
