Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada pleads guilty to leading drug cartel operations

In the United States, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has pleaded guilty to serious federal offenses relating to his extensive involvement in drug trafficking and organized crime. This occurred in August 2024 when he appeared in federal court to change his plea, moving from a previous stance of not guilty to accepting charges of racketeering conspiracy and leading a continuing criminal enterprise. His arrest in July 2024 marked a significant development in his long-running career in the drug trade, having previously evaded law enforcement for decades due to alleged deep-rooted corruption and violent tactics employed by the cartel. Zambada admitted to being at the helm of one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world, significantly impacting the influx of narcotics, such as cocaine and fentanyl, into the United States, leading to a surge in drug-related deaths. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that due to the plea, he now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole, along with a forfeiture order of $15 billion, representing the financial gains from his criminal enterprise. Zambada's leadership in the Sinaloa Cartel, renowned for extreme violence and military-style operations, marked a turning point in the cartel's history as it transitioned from local crime alliances to a leading global entity in drug trafficking, reflecting the broader trends of drug smuggling and organized crime in the Americas.