Sinaloa Cartel Co-Founder Sentenced to Life in U.S. Prison

Why it matters locally: The sentencing of a major drug trafficker like Ismael Zambada has implications for organizations like the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control and state law enforcement agencies, who actively work to combat the flow of illegal narcotics, including those originating from cartels, into Oklahoma communities.

A U.S. federal court sentenced Ismael Zambada to life in prison. Authorities identified Zambada, also known as "El Mayo," as a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. The court also issued a judgment requiring Zambada to pay $15 billion. Zambada admitted to sending significant quantities of illegal drugs into the United States.