Drug lord ‘El Mayo’ Zambada denies being tricked into fleeing which led to his arrest in the US

The world’s most powerful drug lord, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, is denying claims he was scammed into boarding the plane that took him to US authorities in Texas last month.

Zambada, who was arrested on July 25 along with one of El Chapo’s sons, Joaquin Guzmán López, says he was robbed at a meeting in Culiacan and put on a three-hour flight to the U.S. — and that he didn’t get on the plane with the lure of a real estate deal.

“On the contrary, I was kidnapped and brought to the United States by force and against my will,” Zambada wrote in a letter from prison released by his attorney and obtained by CBS News.

He wrote that there were “many false reports” and that he would provide the “true facts.” He said he wanted everyone to know that he did not turn himself in, had an agreement or came voluntarily, the outlet reported.

“El Mayo” wrote that he attended the meeting at the request of Guzmán López to resolve differences between political leaders in Sinaloa.

There he saw a large group of men in military uniforms. He claims he was led into a dark room and ambushed. A hood was placed over his head and he was put on the plane, he wrote in the letter.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel have been arrested in El Paso on suspicion of drug trafficking linked to the deadly distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Officials said Zambada was lured onto the plane with the idea that he and Guzmán López would view real estate in Mexico.

Instead, the plane landed in El Paso, where U.S. Homeland Security agents were waiting for him.

The drug lord’s arrest was likely a way out for Guzmán López and his brother, who could receive shorter sentences in exchange for their cooperation in the case against Zambada in the US.

“The old man was fooled,” a police source told The Los Angeles Times.

Zambada arrived in the U.S. and was arrested by federal officials. He eventually pleaded not guilty, court documents show.

In his letter, he also denied the murder of Héctor Cuen, former congressman and mayor of Culiacan, and denied involvement in the disappearance of José Rosario Heras López, a commander of the Sinaloa State Judicial Police.

He called on the US and Mexico to be “transparent” about his “kidnapping” and urged the people of Sinaloa to remain peaceful.