The judicial process against Ismael “El Mayo” Zambadaone of the historical leaders of the Sinaloa cartelhas taken an unexpected turn after the government of USA (USA) Restored the death penalty for federal crimes and issued a trade with the aim of initiating the “Total elimination of cartels”Mexicans.
The new president’s administration policy Donald Trumpwhich has placed drug cartels at the center of their national security strategy, directly impacts the case of Zambada Garcíawho among the positions facing are those of conspiracy for drug trafficking, money laundering and murder of American citizens by distribution of fentanyl.
The US Department of Justice had already considered the possibility of requesting the death penalty for “On May ”Zambadahowever, according to the journalist’s information Jesus Esquivelin a publication of Process, This option becomes strength with the decision of the Attorney General Pam Bondi to restore capital punishment at the federal level.
And is that with the firm of Bondithe suspension of the death penalty implemented by the administration of Joe Biden It was without effect, which forces prosecutors to consider this punishment in severe cases of organized crime. In this context, Zambada García It could become one of the first drug trafficking leaders to face the maximum penalty under the new guideline.
The process against the capo develops in the Federal Court of the Eastern District of New Yorkunder the supervision of the judge Brian Coganthe same that in 2019 condemned Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán to life imprisonment. However, unlike Guzmán Loera, who was extradited to the US under the bilateral agreement with Mexico that prevents capital punishment, Zambada García does not have that protection.
“The May” was arrested July 25, 2024 along with Joaquín Guzmán Lópezone of the children of El Chapowhen landing on a private plane at the Municipal Airport of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, after, according to the version of the veteran capo, it was embossed and kidnapped.
The key accusation against him could cause the boss to run the risk of being executed is the position of Multiple homicide of US citizens by fentanyl overdose.
Before the reinstitution of the death penalty, federal prosecutors explored the possibility that Zambada García will accept the charges against him and collaborate with the US government in exchange for legal benefits.
At the last hearing held in early February, prosecutors reported that they were in negotiations with Zambada García. Under this status, the Sinaloa Cartel boss would have had to provide information about the drug trafficking network in Mexico, including the names of Officials, politicians, military and police linked to organized crime.
However, the order of Bondi If the death penalty for cartels could complicate these agreements with Capo’s lawyer, Frank Pérez.
The next April 22, “El Mayoz” will appear again before the judge Brian Cogan In a key audience.
Meanwhile, according to the journalist Luis Chaparro, the co -founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, who spent more than 50 years fleeing from justice, has begun to give information about the links he would have had with presidents, former presidents, governors, former governors and others characters, among which Andrés Manuel López Obrador would be mentioned.
In parallel to the case of Zambada Garcíathe US government has intensified its strategy against Mexican cartels. The US Office He issued a memorandum a few days ago in which he orders to start the “Total elimination of cartels”, In compliance with the new security policy of Trump.
The document explicitly mentions the main drug trafficking groups, including the Sinaloa cartelhe New Generation Jalisco Cartel (CJNG) and the Aragua trainin addition to the gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
Among the measures contemplated is the possibility of Appoint these cartels as terrorist organizationswhich would allow security agencies to apply more aggressive tactics against their leaders.
“The Department of Justice must do more to mitigate the damage that these criminal groups cause in the US and stop the entry of mortal poisons such as fentanyl,” reads the trade.
In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office ordered federal prosecutors to pursue cartels leaders with more severe chargesincluding terrorism, organized crime and violations of the Law on the designation of foreign drug traffickers. Control over the traffic of chemical precursors used for synthetic drug production will also be reinforced.
