U.S. authorities indicated that his situation in Mexico will depend on whether there are any pending legal processes against him. In parallel, the name of Gastélum Serrano was recently removed from the sanctions list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which means he no longer faces financial restrictions from the U.S. government. Who is César Gastelum and what is his relationship with “Mayo” Zambada? César Gastélum Serrano was identified by authorities as a close collaborator of Ismael Zambada García. He was also linked to Joaquín Guzmán Loera, with whom he allegedly shared operations within the organization. According to official investigations, his role was to coordinate activities related to drug trafficking, particularly cocaine, to the United States. Additionally, he was pointed out as part of a family network involved in the financial and logistical operations of the criminal group. The removal of sanctions by OFAC also includes his brothers, who had previously been indicated for alleged links to money laundering. To date, the Attorney General's Office has not confirmed if there are active charges against Gastélum Serrano in Mexico, which will be a determining factor in defining his legal situation upon his eventual return to the country. Currently, Gastélum Serrano remains confined in a medium-security prison in Florida. “La Señora” will be returned to Mexico. According to reports, once he obtains his freedom, he will be transferred to a repatriation point near Ciudad Juárez. César Gastélum Serrano, “La Señora,” identified as a key operator of the Sinaloa Cartel, will be released on August 20, according to information from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The operator of Ismael “Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was arrested on April 11, 2015, by elements of the Mexican Navy, and months later, on November 15 of the same year, he was extradited to the U.S., where he faced charges related to drug trafficking. “La Señora” faced life imprisonment in the U.S. Authorities in that country identified him as a significant actor in the trafficking of cocaine to the United States and linked him to criminal operations in Central America. At the time, U.S. officials considered that he should face a severe punishment, with the possibility of life imprisonment even mentioned. However, after the judicial process, the prosecution opted for a deal that resulted in a 10-year prison sentence.
