Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada pleads guilty to drug trafficking in New York

The drug trafficker pleaded guilty to charges of running a continuing a criminal enterprise and racketeering conspiracy.

Ficha policial de Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada — Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada wanted photo.AFP.

Published by

Carlos Dominguez

Published August 25, 2025, 2:08 PM ET

1 minute read

(AFP) Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, co-founder of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel in the 1980s, pleaded guilty of drug trafficking before a New York court, which prevents him from going to trial, although his crimes are punishable by life in prison like his ex-partner Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Agentes de la Guardia Nacional de México, en una operación

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"Guilty," Zambada said in Spanish, of charges of running a continuing criminal enterprise and organized crime activities within a criminal group, for which he asked forgiveness after acknowledging that he "promoted the corruption of police, military commanders and politicians" in Mexico.

The drug trafficker will have to pay a fine of $15 billion, and his sentencing will take place on Jan. 13, 2026.

Zambada previously pleaded not Guilty

On Sept. 14, 2024, Zambada, 77, pleaded not guilty to the 17 charges against him, including murder and trafficking in weapons and drugs, particularly fentanyl.

Zambada was arrested on July 25, 2024, on U.S. soil after arriving in a small plane in the company of Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of his partner in the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

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Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada pleads guilty to drug trafficking in New York

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Zambada previously pleaded not Guilty

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