Mexico reviews extradition request for Sinaloa cartel leader El Mayo Zambada

Mexico's Secretary of Security and Protection, Omar García Harfuch, announced that the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) is examining a request to extradite drug‑lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García so he can be tried in Mexican courts. The move follows Zambada’s capture in the United States in July 2024 and seeks to address criticism that his criminal activities—murders, kidnappings, money‑laundering—have only been prosecuted abroad. Mexican authorities say the extradition would fulfill the constitutional duty to prosecute serious violations committed on Mexican soil and would be coordinated with the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs.

If approved, the extradition would mark a shift toward holding the co‑founder of the Sinaloa cartel accountable in Mexico, signalling increased scrutiny of organized‑crime cases and a push for greater accountability within the national justice system.