The life sentence handed down to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in the United States closed one of the most significant legal chapters in the recent history of Mexican drug trafficking. However, the ruling also brings back memories of events that left their mark on various cities across the country—including Ciudad Juárez, a key territory that was for years at the center of a dispute between criminal organizations vying for control of drug-trafficking routes into the United States.
On July 20, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan in the Eastern District of New York. Zambada, 76, accepted responsibility and the life prison term, thereby avoiding a protracted trial like the one faced by his former partner, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The sentence also included a $15 billion forfeiture order—a figure exceeding the amount previously imposed on Guzmán Loera.
During the hearing, “El Mayo” expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he was not there to ask for leniency, but rather to accept responsibility. His defense team also highlighted the fact that the drug trafficker had decided against cooperating with U.S. authorities or providing information regarding other cases.
