Mexico Wants in on Cartel Boss’ Billions. Urges US to direct seized cartel funds to Mexico’s poor
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is urging the United States to return a portion of the billions of dollars seized from drug trafficker Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to benefit Mexico’s most vulnerable communities.
Zambada, a co-founder of the powerful Sinaloa cartel, pleaded guilty in a U.S. court on Monday to charges including drug trafficking and murder. As part of his plea agreement, the 77-year-old agreed to forfeit approximately $15 billion in assets, according to CBS News.
In a statement on Wednesday, President Sheinbaum said, “If the United States government recovers resources, we will request that they be returned to Mexico for the benefit of the poorest people.” She emphasized that the funds should be used to support communities harmed by the cartel’s activities.
The appeal comes amid renewed speculation about the future of the Sinaloa cartel following Zambada’s plea and the earlier capture of his longtime associate, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. While some officials believe the group has been weakened, Mexican authorities warn that the cartel remains a powerful and active presence on both sides of the border.
“We will seek the return of these assets because of the damage done to the Mexican population,” Sheinbaum said, as reported by Anadolu Agency. “They should be distributed to the people—to the most humble.”
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