Sinaloa cartel co-founder El Mayo sentenced to life in US prison

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Monday in a Brooklyn federal court Source: AP News. The 76-year-old pleaded guilty in August 2025 to charges including racketeering conspiracy and continuing criminal enterprise, admitting to trafficking millions of kilograms of cocaine over decades. The court also ordered him to forfeit $15 billion in drug trafficking profits Source: BBC.

The sentencing

Judge Brian Cogan, who also presided over the trials of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, imposed the mandatory life sentence, citing "the almost unimaginable amount of drugs attributable to him and the number of murders" Source: DW News. The plea deal spared Zambada the death penalty.

Zambada's apology

Before sentencing, Zambada addressed the court, saying: "I grew up in an environment where violence and crime seemed normal, but now I know that’s no excuse... choose a different path" Source: The Guardian. He urged young people not to follow his path, stating: "There is no future in violence. It only leads to prison and death" Source: CNN.

Aftermath and controversy

• Kidnapping capture: Zambada was arrested in July 2024 after being lured by Joaquín Guzmán López, El Chapo's son, who flew him to New Mexico Source: Los Angeles Times.
• Health and security: Zambada's lawyers requested a prison with adequate medical care due to his age and declining health, while prosecutors argued he remains a security risk and could continue directing cartel activities from prison Source: Al Jazeera.
• Cartel splintering: His arrest has triggered violent infighting between his loyalists and backers of El Chapo's sons Source: BBC.
• US-Mexico tensions: The operation has strained bilateral relations, with Mexico questioning U.S. involvement in the kidnapping Source: EL PAÍS.