(NewsNation) — An infamous drug kingpin, long in the shadows, is about to finally step into the spotlight.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, longtime leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is set to appear Tuesday at a federal court hearing in Brooklyn. He allegedly ran the world’s most violent drug cartel with a rancher’s touch — and a warlord’s reach.
As a kingpin, “El Mayo” avoided yachts and nightclubs, preferring cattle ranches and Timberland boots.
He evaded capture for more than three decades, working on the logistics side of the Sinaloa empire, until taking full control after the arrest of “El Chapo” Guzmán in 2016.
Last July, “El Mayo” was finally caught after being lured into the U.S. as part of an elaborate sting operation masterminded by the son of “El Chapo.” Now, Zambada faces a litany of charges, including drug distribution and murder conspiracy.
The legal team for the 77-year-old cartel boss is pushing to avoid the death penalty and exploring whether a deal can be reached in exchange for cooperation.
The arrest of “El Mayo” last July was anything but ordinary. He says he was lured by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of El Chapo, to a meeting in Sinaloa under the pretense of discussing property.
Federal agents arrested both men upon landing near El Paso, Texas. Mexican officials later confirmed their government did not participate in the operation.
For decades, Zambada was considered one of the most powerful drug lords in the world. A co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, he was the business brain behind the operation, focusing on logistics, money laundering and international trafficking.
Unlike his partner, “El Chapo,” “El Mayo” avoided the spotlight and evaded arrest for years.
Under his leadership, authorities say, the Sinaloa Cartel expanded its global footprint into at least 47 countries, trafficking vast amounts of cocaine, heroin, meth and fentanyl across international borders.
At El Chapo’s trial, “El Mayo” son Vicente Zambada testified that his father and Guzman ran the cartel together. He even described a moment when corrupt Mexican politicians approached them about helping to ship 100 tons of cocaine in an oil tanker.
The charges against “El Mayo” span multiple jurisdictions, including New York, Illinois, Washington D.C. and California.
Following his arrest, violence erupted in parts of Mexico as factions clashed. The turf war has intensified in northern Mexico, and some U.S. officials now warn the power vacuum could lead to even more bloodshed.
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