The Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a top leader and co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, may be facing trial in New York City after prosecutors requested to move him from Texas. Zambada, 76, was arrested last month in the U.S. along with a son of the notorious Sinaloa kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Zambada has denied the charges against him, which include racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy, and others. Prosecutors in Texas are seeking to move him to the New York jurisdiction, where Guzmán was previously convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 2019.
If the move to New York is approved, the case against Zambada in Texas would proceed after the one in New York. Zambada is facing charges in Brooklyn related to running a criminal enterprise, murder conspiracy, drug offenses, and other crimes. Meanwhile, Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of “El Chapo” who was arrested with Zambada, has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in Chicago. Zambada is known for his role in the growth of the Sinaloa cartel, which became a major manufacturer and smuggler of illicit drugs to the United States, including fentanyl pills. He is seen as the syndicate’s strategist and dealmaker, with a less flamboyant persona than Guzmán.
Zambada’s arrest last month marked the first time he has been behind bars, as he had managed to avoid capture until then. He has had conflicts with Guzmán’s sons, known as the Chapitos or Little Chapos, within the cartel. There is concern that Zambada’s arrest could lead to a power struggle within the organization, prompting the Mexican government to send special forces soldiers to Sinaloa as a precaution. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has publicly urged the different factions within the cartel not to engage in violence. Zambada’s arrest has raised suspicions about possible upcoming changes in the dynamics of the Sinaloa cartel.
Zambada has been portrayed as a skilled negotiator and key figure in the day-to-day operations of the Sinaloa cartel. His arrest in the U.S. has shed light on his influential role within the organization, which has maintained a significant presence in the drug trade. The move to transfer him to a New York jurisdiction signifies the seriousness of the charges against him and the intention of prosecutors to bring him to trial for his alleged crimes. The case against Zambada is expected to be closely watched by authorities and the public, as it could reveal more about the inner workings of one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels.
