Mexican Cartel Leader Agrees to Transfer from Texas to New York

EL PASO, TX – A powerful Mexican cartel leader has agreed to be transferred from Texas to New York to face federal charges. 

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, 76, a co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, has been held in Texas since his arrest on July 25 after landing at an airport near El Paso. Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, son of drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, were detained together and faced multiple charges in the U.S.

Federal prosecutors in Texas requested Zambada’s transfer last month to New York, where Guzmán was convicted in 2019 on drug and conspiracy charges and sentenced to life. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone had initially denied the request but reversed her decision after Zambada and his attorneys agreed to the move.

Zambada’s transfer is pending approval, and a status hearing previously scheduled for Monday in El Paso was canceled. He faces drug trafficking charges in Texas but has pleaded not guilty.

In New York, Zambada will face charges of running a continuing criminal enterprise, murder conspiracy, and drug offenses. Prosecutors expect to proceed with the case in Texas after the New York trial.