Following the sentencing handed down this Monday against Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the situation facing his family could unfold in various ways; however, his daughters are the ones most at risk, as they could become targets of prosecution due to accusations of money laundering. This is the view of Raúl Benítez Manaut, a researcher and academic at the Center for Research on North America at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
“Then there is the issue of inheritance. Unlike ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán—who has more sons—‘El Mayo’ Zambada has 16 children, the majority of whom are women. Many of them face money-laundering accusations in the United States; that is why the legal proceedings could have wider ramifications—it is no small matter. The men have already faced legal proceedings in the U.S., but now the women would be the natural targets,” the UNAM academic observed.
The United States, through the Department of the Treasury and OFAC, keeps the daughters and ex-wives of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada under surveillance. They have been identified as operators of a network of front companies used for money laundering. Despite these allegations, there are no active arrest warrants for the women, and the businesses continue to operate.
The network of companies linked by U.S. authorities to this structure includes businesses across various sectors.
