Mexico is aiming to claim a portion of the $15 billion ordered by U.S. authorities to be surrendered by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, following his life sentence handed down this Monday. The move highlights ongoing efforts by the Mexican government to recover assets linked to notorious drug traffickers, though experts warn the process faces significant hurdles.

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) will review whether to formally request a share of the assets identified and confiscated from Zambada, the founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. However, security analyst David Saucedo cautions that Mexico is in a race against time to locate properties, companies, and bank accounts tied to Zambada before U.S. authorities freeze or claim those assets.

Saucedo explained that while the FGR can initiate asset forfeiture procedures, the lack of a fully mapped portfolio of Zambada’s holdings in Mexico could delay the process for years. “It’s a fight against the clock. For the Mexican government to start confiscation or asset forfeiture, it must provide solid evidence… As far as we know, there is no investigation file in Mexico proving that a particular building or factory belongs to El Mayo Zambada,” he said.

The expert also noted that if the U.S. Treasury Department moves first to freeze accounts and properties, Mexico’s chances of reclaiming those assets diminish significantly. U.S. sources estimate Zambada’s fortune could reach $50 billion, meaning the court-ordered $15 billion represents roughly a third of his wealth.

This effort is part of a broader push by Mexico to recover illicit fortunes. The government has also targeted assets linked to Genaro García Luna, the former Secretary of Public Security, securing civil judgments exceeding $3 billion in Florida courts against him, his wife, and associated businessmen. Yet, actual recovery remains minimal.

Mexico’s attempts to claim part of the $12.6 billion ordered seized from Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in 2019 have similarly stalled. Although a binational commission was proposed to locate and divide those assets, no reports have confirmed that Mexico has received funds from that order.

President Sheinbaum also mentioned that the FGR will decide whether to interview Zambada to gain firsthand insight into how he ended up in the United States. When asked about Zambada’s statement after sentencing—that “violence must end in Mexico” and “no one will win this war”—Sheinbaum refrained from commenting directly. “Coming from him, it’s hard to quote, right? But this is the work we are doing. It’s the beginning of addressing root causes so no young person turns to crime,” she said.

For Mexico’s migrant community and those invested in social justice, these developments underscore the complex interplay between law enforcement, asset recovery, and the long road toward dismantling criminal networks. The challenge remains not only in seizing wealth but in ensuring that recovered resources contribute to social programs and alternatives that prevent future cycles of violence.