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Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Sentenced to Life in U.S. Court, $15 B Forfeiture
A U.S. federal court in Brooklyn sentenced Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co‑founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, to life imprisonment without parole for drug‑trafficking, organized‑crime and money‑laundering offenses. The judgment also ordered the forfeiture of roughly $15 billion in illicit proceeds linked to his operations.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, declined to give a personal opinion but said the country’s Fiscalía General de la República will assess whether Mexico can claim a share of the seized assets. Security secretary Omar García Harfuch noted that no property is registered directly in Zambada’s name, although numerous accounts and assets tied to criminal groups have been frozen.
The U.S. Department of Justice, supported by the DEA, said the ruling marks a major step against transnational narcotics networks. U.S. ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson praised the verdict and warned that the fight against fentanyl and other drugs must continue. The sentencing also raises questions about a possible extradition request, which Mexican officials said would depend on a formal request from the Mexican prosecutor’s office.