MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was tricked by the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and forced to board a plane bound for the United States last month, he said in a statement on Saturday. El Mayo Zambada ambush details have emerged in a new account, shedding light on his dramatic arrest. #ElMayoZambadaAmbush
Zambada’s lawyer released a statement detailing how U.S. authorities captured both Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. The drug lords were apprehended outside El Paso, Texas. Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel, while Guzman Lopez led another faction.
Zambada claimed he was “ambushed” during a meeting with Guzman Lopez and Sinaloa state officials. This included Governor Ruben Rocha and Hector Cuen, who had just been elected as a federal lawmaker.
The state government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zambada said he first saw Cuen at a ranch outside of state capital Culiacan, and then Guzman Lopez, “whom I have known since he was a young boy, and he gestured for me to follow him.”
Zambada said he followed Guzman Lopez, “trusting the nature of the meeting and the people involved,” and was led into a dark room.
Authorities report that the Sinaloa Cartel’s two main factions have had a rocky relationship since El Chapo’s 2016 capture. One faction is led by Zambada, while the other is led by El Chapo’s sons. #ElMayoZambadaAmbush
Finally, the El Mayo Zambada ambush account highlights significant issues in the arrest strategy. Critics argue that such high-profile captures should avoid such dramatic encounters. As the details unfold, both the public and experts await further revelations.
read more
