Overview

• Claudia Sheinbaum said she will ask the United States to direct any funds recovered from Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s forfeiture to Mexico’s poorest citizens.
• Zambada, 77, pleaded guilty in a New York federal court on Monday and agreed to a $15 billion forfeiture as part of a deal that leaves him facing life in prison and removes the possibility of the death penalty.
• Sentencing is scheduled for early January 2026, and the plea requires Zambada to disclose his assets to the court.
• Analysts and officials caution that the $15 billion represents a court estimate of illicit profits and is unlikely to be fully collectible under U.S. asset‑forfeiture practices.
• Zambada was taken into custody in July 2024 after arriving in Texas with Joaquín Guzmán López; he claims he was kidnapped, a claim Guzmán López’s lawyer denies, and Mexican officials say the Sinaloa cartel remains active.