Ismael El Mayo Zambada brought to US against his will

The recent arrival of Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States has caused quite a bit of controversy. The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, confirmed during a press conference on Friday, August 9, 2024, that his transfer to the United States was against his will. The incident occurred when Zambada was being flown from Mexico to Texas, along with Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of the notorious Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The details surrounding their arrival have raised many eyebrows and questions.

Earlier, Zambada’s lawyer had claimed he had been kidnapped. The story took a turn when it was speculated that he had voluntarily turned himself in to authorities because of his age and illness. “The evidence that we saw … clearly indicates that they took El Mayo Zambada against his will,” said Salazar, who also stressed that this was not a simple extradition case, but rather part of what appeared to be a changing dynamic within the drug cartel factions.

According to the ambassador, this was “an operation between cartels, where one turned in the other,” highlighting the unusual cooperation within the Sinaloa cartel, known for its ruthless competition and fights for territory. The factions of Zambada and Guzmán López are in conflict for power, and this transfer seemed to reflect internal disputes.

The events leading up to their flight were quite dramatic. Guzmán López, reportedly acting in self-preservation, surrendered himself to the U.S. government, but he did not do it alone. According to allegations, he took Zambada by force, to secure his own favor with the authorities. Salazar noted that “there were no U.S. personnel, assets or aircraft involved” during the transport, indicating that it was strictly cartel-coordinated, as U.S. officials were surprised by the plane’s arrival at the airport in El Paso.

Zambada’s attorney, Frank Pérez, vehemently asserted, “My client has not surrendered, nor has he negotiated terms with the U.S. government.” Pérez’s account of events paints a picture of coercion: He alleges that Zambada was ambushed, overpowered and forcibly taken away, thrown to the ground and his legs tied and covered with a black bag before being loaded onto the plane. Zambada, now 76, was reportedly dragged from his location and forced onto the plane, raising questions about the treatment of high-profile detainees.

After their arrival, both Zambada and Guzmán López, who is 38, were taken to federal custody, where they faced serious drug trafficking charges. Guzmán López had reportedly been negotiating the terms of his surrender for some time, pleading not guilty to the charges against him.

The fear now is what this event could mean for the Sinaloa cartel. With the arrest of Guzmán López and Zambada, the cartel, and Zambada’s faction in particular, faces a potential escalation of violence within its ranks. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador responded to the potential fallout by publicly urging cartels to refrain from escalating violence among themselves. The unusual plea reflects the government’s concern about the domino effect of such arrests and the fearsome history of cartel violence.

Historically, Zambada has been notorious for evading capture for decades. His alleged role as one of the co-founders of the Sinaloa Cartel places him among the most powerful figures in the drug trade. Meanwhile, Guzmán López, son of the famous “Chapo”, also represents the next generation of cartel leaders deeply involved in the criminal drug trade.

As U.S. and Mexican authorities grapple with the fallout from these developments, Zambada’s future remains unclear. What will happen to the Sinaloa cartel’s operations? How far-reaching are the implications of this transfer? Only time will tell, as authorities continue to monitor this internally divided faction. While neither drug lord has formally commented on their arrests, both assessments from legal representatives and the U.S. government signal substantial challenges, driven by intelligence, law enforcement, and the dynamics between cartel factions.

This scenario not only highlights the darkness of the drug trade, but also ties international relations together as the U.S. and Mexican governments navigate accusations, politics, and the inherent dangers that lurk around every corner of organized crime. The complexity of their operation and the outcomes of their arrests will likely continue to be the subject of forthcoming debates and legal battles across borders.

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Ismael El Mayo Zambada brought to US against his will

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