El Mayo Zambada Describes His Capture

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, has alleged that he was kidnapped in Mexico and forcibly delivered to U.S. authorities. In a statement released through his lawyer, Zambada described his capture on July 25 as an ambush, aimed at dispelling rumors surrounding his detention. U.S. officials confirmed that Zambada was arrested alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of fellow cartel co-founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, after arriving in El Paso, Texas, on a private plane. Zambada's lawyer contends that his client was forcibly taken near Culiacan, Sinaloa, by Guzman Lopez and six armed men in military uniforms, contradicting claims from Guzman Lopez's legal team. They assert that Zambada's arrival in the U.S. was a voluntary surrender following negotiations. Zambada recounted being invited to a meeting by Guzman Lopez, whom he has known since childhood, but claimed he was ambushed upon entering the room. U.S. officials, including Ambassador Ken Salazar, have characterized the incident as a cartel operation, suggesting that one faction turned Zambada over to authorities without American involvement. The U.S. Embassy confirmed that no flight plan was filed with them, and the pilot was neither a U.S. citizen nor contracted by the government. Zambada is believed to have played a significant role in the cartel's operations, more so than El Chapo, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S. Meanwhile, Guzman Lopez has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges.