Former Sinaloa Cartel Leader Zambada Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, the longtime leader and co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court to charges including racketeering conspiracy, running a continuing criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, gun offenses, and money laundering. He admitted to directing murders, kidnappings, and operating a violent, militarized cartel responsible for smuggling massive quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States. Zambada apologized for the harm caused by illegal drugs in both the U.S. and Mexico, taking responsibility for his actions and acknowledging the deaths of many innocent people. Arrested in Texas in 2024 after being tricked into flying to the U.S., he faces a mandatory life sentence and a $15 billion forfeiture order. Prosecutors highlighted the cartel's extensive operations, including bribing officials and employing hitmen to protect its drug trafficking empire. Zambada's guilty plea marks a significant moment in U.S. efforts to dismantle one of the world's largest drug trafficking organizations.