NEW YORK -- Former Mexican cartel kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada pleaded guilty Monday to U.S. drug trafficking charges, saying he was sorry for helping to flood the U.S. with cocaine, heroin and other illicit substances and for fueling deadly violence in Mexico.

"I recognize the great harm illegal drugs have done to the people in the United States and Mexico," he said through a Spanish-language interpreter. "I apologize for all of it, and I take responsibility for my actions."

Under the leadership of Zambada and Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, the Sinaloa cartel evolved from a regional player into the largest drug trafficking organization in the world, prosecutors say.

"Culpable," Zambada said, using the Spanish word for "guilty," as he entered his plea.

He acknowledged the extent of th

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