Leader of powerful Mexican drug cartel charged in New York – DNyuz

The leader of one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels is being arraigned today by U.S. prosecutors.

Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada will be arraigned in New York on a massive 17-count indictment.

The charges include drug trafficking, murder and money laundering.

The 76-year-old Zambada has long been one of the world’s most wanted men, having evaded capture for more than two decades.

His arrest in July sent shockwaves through the criminal underworld, particularly in Mexico, where rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel have been locked in deadly conflict.

Zambada’s indictment is a major milestone in the U.S. government’s long-running battle against the Sinaloa Cartel, the organization responsible for much of the heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl entering the United States.

The syndicate’s leader was captured after landing in a private jet at an airport near El Paso, Texas, on July 25.

He was accompanied by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the notorious drug lord and prolific escapologist Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, his former partner in crime.

Together, they were a dominant player in the global drug trade for decades, amassing billions of dollars.

Zambada has claimed in a letter that he was forcibly abducted by Guzmán López and brought to the United States. However, U.S. officials have not yet been able to substantiate these claims.

Prosecutors say Zambada is a figure of unparalleled power and influence within the cartel, a man who has operated with impunity for years.

“The defendant had an arsenal of military-grade weapons to protect his person, his drugs and his empire,” U.S. attorneys wrote in a letter to the judge.

Zambada’s security forces were described as highly trained and heavily armed bodyguards who imposed his will in Mexico, Colombia and Ecuador.

The indictment also details the extensive use of “sicarios,” or hitmen, under Zambada’s command.

These assassins were used to eliminate rivals, silence informants, and maintain control within his own organization.

In a chilling revelation, prosecutors accuse Zambada of ordering the killing of his own cousin several months ago.

“For decades, defendant worked to grow, expand, and strengthen the cartel’s power, and to increase his individual power and position within the cartel after the capture of his associate, El Chapo,” the Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney’s Office wrote in a court document Thursday.

Zambada’s arrest has reportedly sparked violent clashes within Sinaloa.

Clashes between rival factions loyal to Zambada and those allied with other sons of “El Chapo” Guzmán have led to a series of deadly gun battles in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state.

In recent weeks, schools and businesses have had to close their doors as violence breaks out on the streets.

The Sinaloa cartel, once a unified criminal enterprise, now faces internal divisions that have increased since the arrest of Guzmán Sr. and his extradition to the US in 2017.

‘El Chapo’ was convicted in 2019 of drug trafficking and conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison.

Now his sons, often called Los Chapitos, are reportedly battling Zambada’s supporters for control of the cartel.

Although Zambada had previously pleaded not guilty in Texas, the charges against him in New York could result in the death penalty if convicted.

US prosecutors have already asked the court not to grant bail, saying Zambada poses an extreme danger due to his resources, influence and extensive history of violence.

They argue that his captivity is necessary for public safety.

The precise circumstances under which Zambada surrendered to US authorities remain unclear.

Guzmán López, who accompanied Zambada to the US, has also been charged with drug trafficking and is awaiting trial in Chicago.

Why Guzmán López turned himself in and why he took Zambada with him remains a mystery.

Zambada’s indictment in New York is a major victory in the United States’ decades-long fight against international drug cartels.

According to the DEA, the Sinaloa cartel is responsible for at least a third of all narcotics entering the U.S. from Mexico, including much of the deadly drug fentanyl that has fueled America’s opioid crisis.

Between 2020 and 2022, fentanyl overdoses contributed to more than 100,000 deaths per year in the US

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press

The story Powerful leader of Mexican drug cartel to face trial in New York first appeared on Newsweek.