The End of an Era: Ismael Zambada's Life Sentence Marks a Shift in US Mexico Relations Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, will spend the rest of his days behind bars.
This sentence marks a significant milestone in the decades long effort to dismantle the cartel's vast network.
For nearly four decades, Zambada orchestrated the flow of cocaine and other illicit substances from Mexico into the United States.