Sinaloa cartel leader sentenced to life in US prison

A federal court in New York has sentenced Ismael Zambada García, the longtime leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, better known as "El Mayo," to life imprisonment.

According to TASS, the announcement was made by Joseph Nocella, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

"Ismael Zambada García, also known as 'El Mayo,' has been sentenced to life imprisonment," Nocella said, describing the drug kingpin as "the most significant drug trafficker of this century." He added that life behind bars without contact with his family was an appropriate punishment for the harm caused by his crimes.

Zambada was arrested in the summer of 2024 on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering. According to The Wall Street Journal, his capture was facilitated by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of the cartel's founder. The newspaper reported that Guzmán had secretly coordinated with U.S. authorities to travel with Zambada on a flight to El Paso, Texas, where the cartel leader was taken into custody.