'el Mayo' Zambada Seeks to Avoid the Death Penalty Following His Capture in the U.s.

Who is "El Mayo" Zambada?

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada is one of the most enigmatic and powerful figures in organized crime in Mexico. He is credited with being the true leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, even above Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, due to his operational capacity and low profile.

Since the 1980s, "El Mayo" built a criminal empire based on the trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamines, heroin, and fentanyl to the United States. Unlike other kingpins, Zambada avoided ostentation and internal disputes, which allowed him to remain at the helm of the cartel for decades without being captured.

However, his arrest in 2024 marked the end of an era. He now faces trial in the Federal Court of New York, where the prosecution is seeking the death penalty for the 76-year-old drug trafficker.

Accusations and charges against him

U.S. authorities have presented strong evidence against Zambada, accusing him of being the main person responsible for the introduction of drugs into the U.S. over the last 40 years. The charges he faces include:

Trafficking tons of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the U.S.

International money laundering through front companies in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe.

Corruption of officials in Mexico and the United States, including bribes to DEA agents and the Mexican Navy.

Ordering multiple murders of rivals and witnesses who threatened to expose the cartel.

The New York Prosecutor's Office has been adamant in its stance: they will seek the maximum penalty for the drug trafficker, taking advantage of the fact that Donald Trump's administration has labeled Mexican cartels as "terrorist organizations."

Zambada asks for help from the Mexican government

In an unexpected move, "El Mayo" Zambada sent a letter to President Claudia Sheinbaum, requesting diplomatic intervention to avoid facing the death penalty.

His defense argues that Zambada's capture was not legal, but the result of a kidnapping organized by his own godson, Joaquín Guzmán López, son of "El Chapo" Guzmán. According to the kingpin's version, his arrest was part of a betrayal within the Sinaloa Cartel, as Guzmán López sought to turn him in in exchange for reducing his own sentence in the U.S.

Zambada's lawyer, Juan Manuel Delgado, submitted the official request to the Mexican government, assuring that his client is willing to cooperate with U.S. justice in exchange for a lesser sentence.

"My client knows he will spend the rest of his life in prison, but what he doesn't want is to be executed," Delgado stated in an interview.