Long-elusive Mexican drug lord Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada pleads guilty in U.S.

['The Associated Press', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-08-26 05:03:22

“Culpable,” Zambada said, using the Spanish word for “guilty,” as he entered his plea in a Brooklyn courtroom, about 2,200 miles (3,500 kilometers) from Mexico’s Sinaloa state. Arrest of Mexican drug lord last year unleashes deadly regional war The arrest last summer of Mexico’s most elusive drug lord set off a bloody regional war, leaving more than 1,000 dead and more than 1,000 missing. Prosecutors promised not to seek the death penaltyZambada’s plea came two weeks after prosecutors said they wouldn’t seek the death penalty. His lawyer, Frank Perez, stressed after court that the plea agreement doesn’t obligate Zambada to cooperate with government investigators. Zambada describes his drug tradeZambada appeared momentarily unsteady as he arrived in court; a marshal grabbed his arm to direct him to his seat.