Sinaloa Cartel Leader 'El Mayo' Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Murder Charges

Ismael Zambada Garcia, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, faces 17 counts in a Brooklyn federal court and is held without bail.

Zambada, 76, has been charged with overseeing a multi-billion-dollar drug trafficking operation and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Prosecutors describe Zambada as one of the most powerful drug kingpins, responsible for flooding the U.S. with narcotics and leading a violent cartel.
His arrest on July 25 has triggered violent clashes in Mexico between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel.
Zambada claims he was kidnapped in Mexico by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of 'El Chapo,' and forcibly brought to the U.S.
If convicted, Zambada faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison and is eligible for the death penalty.