BTN News: In a recent turn of events that has captured the attention of both Mexico and the United States, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has expressed support for the idea that Mexico’s Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) should request detailed information from the U.S. regarding the pilot involved in the transportation of notorious drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This request comes in the wake of Zambada’s revelations about being betrayed by Guzmán López, leading to his arrest in Texas on July 25th. The Mexican president’s stance highlights the growing concern over the opaque nature of the operations that led to the capture of these high-profile cartel members. With questions swirling around the involvement of U.S. authorities, López Obrador has called for greater transparency, particularly in understanding the circumstances that led to the apprehension of Zambada, who had managed to elude capture for decades.
The Mexican President, during his daily morning press conference, did not mince words when addressing the issue, emphasizing the need for the FGR to take charge of the investigation into the detention of both Zambada and Guzmán López. He pointed out the importance of uncovering the whereabouts and nationality of the pilot who flew the two cartel figures to Texas. López Obrador’s remarks come as a response to the accusations made by Zambada in a letter that surfaced over the weekend, in which he claimed to have been deceived by Guzmán López and handed over to U.S. authorities under false pretenses.
The situation has further strained the already complex relationship between the two neighboring nations, particularly as it raises questions about the involvement of the U.S. in Zambada’s arrest. López Obrador criticized the lack of transparency from American officials, referring to the case as a “highly sensitive matter” that demands full disclosure. The President also recalled that the U.S. Department of Justice had previously admitted to being in communication with Guzmán López, but insisted that there is a need to clarify the timeline of these conversations, identify the intermediaries, and determine who finalized the agreement for the July 25th transfer.
Adding another layer to the intrigue, the President expressed skepticism over statements made by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, who claimed that Guzmán López had turned over Zambada in an operation that the U.S. government did not participate in. While López Obrador acknowledged Salazar’s respectful conduct, he voiced doubts about the veracity of the ambassador’s claims, noting that many conflicting interests are at play in such cases.
In response to the unfolding drama, Mexico’s Fiscalía General announced on Sunday that it had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Zambada’s arrest. The charges under investigation include illicit flight, unauthorized use of air facilities, violation of immigration and customs laws, kidnapping, and treason. This probe is set to examine not only the actions of Guzmán López, who is part of a faction within the Sinaloa Cartel known as “Los Chapitos,” but also those of other individuals involved in the transfer of the 76-year-old Zambada, who had evaded capture for decades and never set foot in prison until now.
Further complicating matters, Zambada’s lawyer, Frank Pérez, released a two-page, typewritten letter allegedly from Zambada himself. In this letter, Zambada claims that he was assaulted, bound, and blindfolded before being forced onto a private jet bound for the United States, where he was handed over to American authorities while Guzmán López surrendered. Zambada also alluded to his deep connections within Sinaloa’s political and law enforcement circles, asserting that his security detail included a commander from the state’s judicial police, who is now missing. The letter paints a picture of a man who, despite his notorious reputation, was entangled in the murky intersections of drug trafficking and local politics.
The revelations have sent shockwaves through Mexico, especially given Zambada’s account of attending a meeting intended to “resolve differences between political leaders” in Sinaloa. According to Zambada, the meeting was supposed to involve Iván Guzmán, another son of “El Chapo,” Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha, and an elected congressman who was murdered on the day of Zambada’s capture. Governor Rocha, who is a member of Mexico’s ruling party, has vehemently denied any connections to the two drug traffickers, insisting that he was not in Sinaloa on the day of the arrest.
President López Obrador has publicly supported Governor Rocha, calling for clarity regarding the assassination of the elected congressman, Héctor Melesio Cuén, a former rector of a Sinaloa university. State authorities have stated that Cuén was killed during a robbery attempt, but the timing of his death has raised suspicions, given its coincidence with the arrest of Zambada.
As the investigation unfolds, the case promises to shed more light on the intricate web of relationships between Mexican drug cartels, political figures, and law enforcement, as well as the shadowy dealings that led to the arrest of one of the most elusive figures in the world of organized crime. Zambada, who faces multiple charges in the United States, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl, was considered more deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the Sinaloa Cartel than even Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the U.S. in 2019. The ongoing investigation and its findings could have significant implications for both Mexico’s internal security and its relationship with the United States.
