Notorious drug cartel leader Ismael Zambada sentenced to life in US prison
BBC News·July 20, 2026

Ismael Zambada, also known as "El Mayo", has been sentenced to life in a US prison for his role in the Sinaloa Cartel. As co-founder of the notorious cartel, Zambada admitted to smuggling vast amounts of drugs into the US. In addition to his life sentence, he has been ordered to pay $15 billion in restitution. Zambada's sentencing marks a significant blow to the Sinaloa Cartel's operations and leadership.
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