Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Leader to Face Trial in Brooklyn

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a key figure in the Sinaloa cartel, is set to be transferred from El Paso, Texas, to Brooklyn, New York, for trial, as confirmed by his attorney, Frank Pérez. The timing of the transfer remains unspecified. Zambada will face charges in the same district where his alleged co-founder, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple federal offenses. The competition among U.S. attorneys to prosecute Zambada highlights the significance of this case. Zambada's arrest occurred in late July when a plane carrying him and Guzmán's son, Joaquín Guzmán López, arrived in El Paso from Mexico. Both men are accused of leading one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations globally. However, Zambada's attorney claims that his client was a victim of a violent kidnapping rather than a willing participant in his arrest, asserting that he was forcibly taken onto the plane with his legs tied. Joaquín Guzmán López, known as one of the “Chapitos,” has pleaded not guilty to various charges, including narcotics and money laundering, but has not been accused of kidnapping. His attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, stated that they would respond to any formal accusations from the government. Despite the high-profile arrests, experts caution that capturing these cartel leaders may not significantly reduce drug trafficking or violence in the U.S. or Mexico and could potentially worsen the situation.