Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a co-founder of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and one of the world’s most wanted drug traffickers, pleaded guilty on Monday in a Brooklyn federal courtroom to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of running a continuing criminal enterprise. Reading from a prepared statement before Judge Brian Cogan, the 75-year-old acknowledged creating and leading the cartel for more than five decades, moving massive quantities of cocaine and other narcotics into the United States and financing the operation by paying bribes to Mexican police, military commanders and politicians. Under a plea agreement that removed the death penalty from consideration, Zambada faces a mandatory life sentence. Prosecutors are also seeking the forfeiture of up to US$15 billion in assets. Sentencing was set for January 13, 2026. Zambada was arrested in Texas on July 25, 2024 after evading capture for decades. His conviction follows last month’s guilty plea by Ovidio Guzmán, son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and deepens U.S. efforts to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel’s leadership. Prosecutors have not disclosed whether Zambada will cooperate with further investigations.