El Mayo Zambada Pleads Not Guilty in Texas

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, alleged co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, pleaded not guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges following his arrest in El Paso, Texas, alongside El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Zambada, in his 70s and wheelchair-bound, waived his right to appear in court for the arraignment and is scheduled for a status conference next week. Both men are accused of funneling large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S., contributing to a fentanyl crisis that has surged in recent years. The arrests represent a significant achievement for U.S. law enforcement and may destabilize the cartel's operations. The Mexican government was informed of the arrests but did not participate in the operation, raising questions about the circumstances of their detentions. Zambada's capture could lead to broader implications for drug trafficking dynamics in Mexico, especially with ongoing tensions among cartel factions.