Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zambada and the second or maternal family name is García.
Ismael Mario Zambada García
Born
Ismael Mario Zambada García

(1948-01-01) 1 January 1948 (age 76)[1]
El Alamo, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico[2]
Other namesMayo,[3] M-Z,[4] Padrino,[4] el Señor
OccupationLeader of Sinaloa Cartel
PredecessorJoaquin Guzmán Loera
SuccessorIsmael Zambada Sicairos
Criminal statusIncarcerated
SpouseRosario Niebla Cardoza
Children
At least 8
  • * Vicente Zambada Niebla, alias "El Vicentillo"
  • * Ismael Zambada Imperial, alias "Mayito Gordo"
  • * Serafín Zambada Ortiz, alias "Sera"
  • * Ismael Zambada Sicairos, alias ""El Mayito Flaco"
  • * María Teresa Zambada Niebla
  • * Monica del Rosario Zambada Niebla
  • * Modesta Zambada Niebla
  • * Antonio Zambada
Partner(s)Juan José Esparragoza Moreno and Héctor Luis Palma Salazar

Ismael Mario Zambada García (born 1 January 1948),[1] also known as El Mayo, is a Mexican former drug lord and top leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, an international crime syndicate based in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Before he assumed leadership of the entire cartel, he allegedly served as the logistical coordinator for its Zambada García faction, which has overseen the trafficking of cocaine and heroin into Chicago and other US cities by aircraft, narcosubs, container ships, go-fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor trailers, and automobiles.[5]

Until his arrest in July 2024, he had never been arrested or incarcerated. He was arrested in El Paso, Texas, United States, and reported to be in US custody on 25 July 2024.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b "Narcotics Rewards Program: Ismael Zambada-Garcia". U.S. Department of State. 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
  2. ^ Flores, Linaloe R. (20 February 2011). "Cuna de narcos se hunde en la miseria". El Universal (Mexico City) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  3. ^ De la Luz González, María (19 March 2009). "Detienen al hijo de El Mayo Zambada". El Universal (in Spanish). Mexico City. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. ^ a b Scherer, Julio (4 April 2010). "El Mayo dice que Calderón perderá la guerra antinarco". El Informador (Mexico) (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  5. ^ "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. JESUS VICENTE ZAMBADA-NIEBLA" (PDF). United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 11 October 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 June 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  6. ^ Jorgic, Drazen (25 July 2024). "Mexican drug lord "El Mayo" is in U.S. custody, sources say". Reuters.
  7. ^ Feuer, Alan; Kitroeff, Natalie (25 July 2024). "Two Top Mexican Cartel Leaders Are Arrested by U.S. Authorities". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.