The Long Arm of Justice Catches Up with El Mayo The sentencing of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to life in prison marks a rare moment of accountability for one of Mexico's most notorious drug kingpins.
However, this development serves as a sobering reminder that the rule of law remains a distant ideal in much of Latin America.
Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded guilty last August to shipping millions of kilograms of cocaine over several decades. In doing so, he acknowledged his role in fueling Mexico's devastating narco violence.