The Justice Department’s Commitment to the Total Elimination of Cartels & Transnational Criminal Organizations

Co-Founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON and Ordered to Forfeit $15 Billion in Drug Trafficking Profits

"Today, narco-trafficker El Mayo was sentenced to life in prison, marking the end of his reign over the Sinaloa Cartel,… pic.twitter.com/pWyPn2VJno

— Criminal Division (@DOJCrimDiv) July 20, 2026

… one of the most violent and deadly drug cartels in history. He will never again inflict carnage, corrupt public officials, or traffic deadly drugs into our communities that ruin Americans and their families," said @AAGDuva . "El Mayo's conviction is historic, and it reflects the Justice Department's commitment to the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations that threaten American lives. To those who remain: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and you, too, will face substantial time in prison."