Brooklyn courthouse where "El Mayo" appeared wearing a prison jumpsuit. Photo by Oscar Flores Pavón
BROOKLYN, Sept. 13
Notorious drug lord, Ismael Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the Sinaloa drug cartel, along with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, appeared in Brooklyn Federal court to face a judge. The 76-year-old pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of drug trafficking and murder. “El Mayo,” his nickname derived from his middle name Mario , wore a prison jumpsuit and sneezed with a cold displaying signs of physical weakness.
The charges against the long-time cartel leader include murder conspiracy, money laundering, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl manufacturing and distribution. Through a Spanish language interpreter, Zambada answered questions from Judge James Cho. The judge asked if he understood the charges against him. “El Mayo” spoke very few words and answered “yes” or “no” to the judge’s questions. Assistant federal prosecutor Francisco Navarro told the court that Zambada, “Is not one of the most powerful drug lords in the world, but the most powerful. He was at the top of the drug trafficking world for decades,” the prosecutor said.
Zambada was arrested when he landed in a private plane near El Paso, Texas on July 25. He was apparently tricked into getting on the plane by Joaquín Guzmán Lopez, a son of “El Chapo.” It is not clear why Guzmán Lopez turned himself into law enforcement officials.
Frank Pérez, the lawyer of the Sinaloa drug cartel leader stopped to talk to reporters. Photo by Oscar Flores Pavón.
Zambada’s attorney, Frank Pérez told reporters that his client, “Has been having knee problems, but is in good health.” He then confirmed that, “This case is going to trial.” He insisted that Zambada will be ready to face the upcoming trial.
In his hometown of Culiacán, in Mexico, an outbreak of violence was reported with robberies, disappearances, and businesses set on fire as a result of his arrest. Local press reports describe a turf war between drug cartels. They report that the criminal group is divided between followers of “El Mayo” against the “Chapitos”, sons of El Chapo Guzmán, who are fighting for control of the drug operation in the region. Magistrate Cho ordered that Zambada remain in federal custody and scheduled the next hearing for October 31, 2024.
