SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Earlier this week, the co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded guilty to 24 drug-related charges in a New York City courtroom while agreeing to serve a life sentence and paying a $15 billion forfeiture money judgment.
That means that in case he can’t pay the full amount, he agrees to forfeit any property that he owns until the amount is settled.
During her daily news conference on Wednesday, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum told reporters that Mexico is entitled to “its share” if the U.S. goes after Zambada’s fortune.
She says Mexico deserves a portion of Zambada’s wealth since his drug dealings have negatively impacted her country.
“If there is a seizure of assets, obviously, we will be asking for damages,” said Sheinbaum. “It will be spread among the public, the most humble in our country will get it.”
While in court Monday, Zambada spoke about starting his life of crime at the age of 19 when he planted his first marijuana plant.
He also admitted to transporting 500 tons of cocaine to the United States, earning hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
And Zambada admitted to ordering the assassinations of his rivals and said “many innocent people died as well.”
During his court appearance, Zambada claimed to have bribed countless police officers, military officials and politicians in Mexico, something President Sheinbaum did not address.
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