One of Mexico most notorious drug cartel leaders, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, don get life sentence for US prison. Na US judge tok am two years after dem lure am come US for elaborate sting operation.
The 76-year-old wey found Sinaloa Cartel with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, apologise for court and also ordered to pay $15bn. For 2024, El Chapo son lead Zambada believe say dem dey go northern Mexico to inspect clandestine airstrips, but instead dem plane land for Texas and dem arrest am.
Last year, Zambada reach plea deal and admit to drug smuggling and conspiracy charges in exchange to avoid death penalty. On Monday, US District Judge Brian Cogan sentence Zambada for hearing for Brooklyn federal court. His guilty plea carry mandatory term of life for prison.
Zambada speak through Spanish translator for the hearing. He say he sorry “for the harm I caused and for the example I set” and call for future generations to “choose a different path”. “If there’s one thing I can say wey get value today, na this: the violence must end,” the former cartel boss talk. “For Mexico and elsewhere affected by this type of crime, too many lives dey lost, too many families dey destroyed, and too many young people dey trapped for cycle wey lead only to prison or death.”
The $15bn dem order am to pay represent drug-trafficking profits from his role as principal leader of criminal enterprise, according to justice department. El Chapo son, Joaquin Guzmán Lopez, also arrest for July 2024 and don plead guilty to federal drug charges. He still dey wait for sentence.
For the plea deal, Zambada officially accept his role for creating the vast criminal network wey don send huge amounts of cocaine and other drugs into US since he co-found Sinaloa Cartel at the end of 1980s. “Ismael Zambada Garcia spend nearly four decades poisoning American communities to make billions of dollars for profit and order the murders of anyone wey stand for him way,” US Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr for Eastern District of New York talk for statement. “Today, that chapter close for good.”
Prosecutors argue for sentencing memo say Zambada “was one of the most—if not the most—prolific and powerful narcotraffickers for the world”, according to CBS, BBC US partner. The Sinaloa Cartel don dey war with itself since dem take Zambada into custody and don wreak mayhem across Mexican state of Sinaloa. Hundreds of people don report missing during fighting between two rival factions.
Violence and bloodletting also shake the cartel after dem arrest and extradite El Chapo to US for 2016 as factions dey vie for control of territory while fighting off opposing drug gangs wey sense weakness. He also dey serve life for prison. One of the issues wey don arise since Zambada agree to plead guilty na where he go serve his sentence. He don ask make dem send am to prison hospital, say he go need medical care for age-related health issues. Dem understand say he dey for poor health for recent years.
Federal prosecutors though dey seek higher-level incarceration, contending say Zambada still pose security threat while behind bars and fit continue to direct illegal drug operations. The federal Bureau of Prisons go make final decision about where dem hold am, though he look almost certain to die for US custody. On him first day back for office, US President Donald Trump announce say he go increase pressure on Mexico and the cartels, including designating the criminal enterprises terrorist groups. The US also accuse the governor of Sinaloa of conspiring with drug traffickers.
The Mexican government too don take more aggressive steps against cartels and send thousands of troops to Sinaloa. The question of wetin Zambada punishment mean to Sinaloa cartel no clear. For all probability, e no go change status quo. Organised crime move on quickly for Mexico and El Mayo former footsoldiers don already adapt to life without am. Neither e likely to significantly affect the traffic of cocaine and fentanyl into US. There always another ready to take over the mantle, even from so influential crime boss as El Mayo Zambada.
