Overview

• U.S. prosecutors and federal agencies hailed the plea as a landmark enforcement success and said Zambada will spend the rest of his life in a U.S. prison.
• Defense attorney Frank Pérez stated Zambada has no agreement to cooperate with any government, will not identify collaborators, and urged Sinaloa to remain calm.
• Sentencing is set for January 13, 2026, after Zambada admitted guilt to racketeering-related charges, including leading a continuing criminal enterprise.
• In court he acknowledged trafficking roughly 1.5 million kilograms of cocaine to the United States, ordering murders, and bribing police, military and politicians in Mexico.
• The Justice Department declined to seek the death penalty, and the plea includes a reported $15 billion financial component.