Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada remained one of Mexico’s most difficult drug lords to apprehend for many years. Authorities pursuing him in Sinaloa, his home state, repeatedly failed to capture him. A former U.S. law enforcement official recounted how Zambada avoided capture, often making his escapes without any security personnel or violence.
Unlike other infamous figures like Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, Zambada operated discreetly. He commanded from the shadows, orchestrating both the deaths of his rivals and the bribery of high-ranking officials. However, on July 25, 2024, his reign ended abruptly.
A betrayal led to Zambada’s downfall when one of El Chapo’s sons set up an ambush, leading to his capture. U.S. federal agents arrested him at a small airport near El Paso.
In the two years following his capture, questions arose about the U.S. role in the operation. Official claims stated that El Chapo’s son acted independently, but insiders shared with The Times details of discussions that occurred before Zambada’s capture. On a Monday, a federal judge sentenced Zambada to life in prison. Once an enigma, the 76-year-old appeared frail in court, revealing glimpses of his age and remorse.
Zambada addressed the court, admitting his past mistakes and acknowledging the cost to others. U.S. officials celebrated his sentencing but did not claim responsibility for his apprehension. Joseph Nocella, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, clarified that the U.S. does not support kidnapping, even if Joaquin Guzmán López acted independently.
Although the U.S. ambassador to Mexico at the time, Ken Salazar, denied involvement, an exhibit at a New Mexico museum displayed a plane used during Zambada’s capture. The FBI labeled this as part of “Operation Air Kings,” suggesting a planned arrest of Zambada and El Chapo’s son.
Sources familiar with the operation indicated that U.S. agents had communicated with Guzmán López. They intend to pressure him into surrender, hinting at benefits for bringing along evidence or other cartel members.
Prior to the arrest, Guzmán López informed the U.S. agents about an imminent arrival with a significant bargaining chip. Speculations about Zambada’s cooperation arose, given his family’s history of deals with authorities. His attorney has denied such intentions, focusing instead on Zambada’s difficult upbringing and complex character.
Zambada’s family background involved subsistence farming in Sinaloa. Forced to work from an early age, he turned to drug trafficking at 19. His defense portrayed him as a reluctant kingpin, stressing his upbringing’s influence on his life choices.
Zambada’s former associates remarked on his tendency to resort to violence only as a last resort.
Despite his reluctance to cut a deal, Zambada’s capture and sentencing touched upon wider cartel dynamics. One of his sons took over the faction he led, engaging in ongoing violent conflicts.
For U.S. officials involved in Zambada’s pursuit, his sentencing signified partial closure. Yet, they cautioned against viewing it as a comprehensive triumph. The Sinaloa cartel persists, driven by a generation unfamiliar with a different world.
During sentencing, Zambada implored for a cessation of violence, urging future generations to make different choices. He underscored the futility in crime, rooted in inevitable pain and suffering.
Reporter Darren Foster contributed additional information from Brooklyn.