Mexican Cartel Kingpin ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Set to Plead Guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court

In a case that exposes the staggering costs of lax border security and failed policies, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a notorious Mexican drug lord who helmed the Sinaloa cartel, is poised to plead guilty to federal charges in Brooklyn. This shift from his previous not guilty pleas comes after prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty—a decision reflecting negotiations rather than leniency for one of the world’s most ruthless criminals. For decades, Zambada helped transform the Sinaloa cartel from a regional operation into an international drug trafficking powerhouse. Under his leadership alongside Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, this cartel...