Mexican Govt Will Provide Consular Assistance To Sinaloa Cartel Leader 'El Mayo' Zambada As He Seeks To Avoid U.S. Trial

The Mexican government revealed it has provided consular assistance to drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, as he seeks to be repatriated to his country and avoid a trial in the U.S. where he could potentially get the death penalty.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the New York consulate has already responded to a request by Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, "in a timely manner." It added that the imprisoned cartel leader will get assistance like "all Mexicans detained abroad who request it."

The development comes as the Claudia Sheinbaum administration also revealed that it has requested Zambada's extradition up to four times since he was captured in Texas in July 2024. Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero said the Joe Biden administration acknowledged the requests but has so far not provided answers. He added that extradition processes usually take no more than 45 days, but there have been cases in which they have had to wait up to 12 years for a response.

Zambada's defense contends that his abduction and subsequent transfer to the U.S. violated Mexico's sovereignty. He claimed he was taken from Culiacán, Sinaloa, and transported to Texas in a private aircraft with the involvement of Joaquin Guzmán López, son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, as the faction of the cartel loyal to him clashes with those answering to Zambada.

"What we need is that they comply with the request so we can carry out our arrest warrants and see if there is an additional request for him to be extradited back to the U.S.," Gertz Manero said.

On Feb. 25, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said her administration will evaluate Zambada's repatriation request based on legal principles applicable to any Mexican resident.

Zambada is looking to return to Mexico as he faces a U.S. trial in which he could get the death penalty. In fact, his lawyer revealed this week that he is willing to plead guilty to charges in the U.S. if that means he won't be executed.

The revelation marks a shift in the drug lord's legal strategy, considering he had pleaded not guilty to the charges pressed against him both in Texas and New York. A spokesperson for the Brooklyn District Attorney declined to comment on the statements from Zambada's lawyer. Prosecutors had reportedly initiated negotiations with Zambada to secure his cooperation in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

Zambada faces 17 charges in New York, including drug-trafficking, conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Zambada played a central role in trafficking fentanyl into the United States, contributing to a surge in overdose deaths. Although New York abolished the death penalty in 2004, federal charges allow for its application in cases involving mass murders or crimes comparable to terrorism. Zambada, 75, is the only Mexican defendant explicitly charged with fentanyl trafficking.