# Sinaloa Cartel boss 'El Mayo' gets life sentence, must forfeit $15B in drug profits

A US court sentenced Sinaloa Cartel co-founder "El Mayo" to life in prison and ordered him to pay $15 billion in drug trafficking proceeds. The punishment marks one of the largest financial penalties ever imposed on a drug kingpin. This ruling deals a severe blow to the cartel's leadership and sends a strong message about international drug enforcement cooperation.

**Importance:** 5/5

## Sources

### World
- [Fox News World](https://www.foxnews.com/world/sinaloa-cartel-boss-el-mayo-sentenced-life-ordered-pay-15b-drug-trafficking-profits) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 21:00:05 -0400