Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a prominent leader of a Mexican drug cartel, was taken into U.S. custody after a plane carrying him and Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of the infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, landed in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Zambada had evaded authorities for decades and had never been imprisoned before this incident. Both Zambada and Guzmán López are facing various U.S. drug charges and remain incarcerated.
Frank Perez, Zambada’s attorney, vehemently denied that his client willingly flew to the U.S. Perez claimed that Zambada was forcibly kidnapped by Guzmán López, who, along with six men in military uniforms, ambushed Zambada, restrained him, and transported him against his will to the U.S. Perez provided a detailed account of the alleged abduction, stating that Zambada was bound and hooded before being placed in the back of a pickup truck and then forced onto the plane.
Drug Lord Ismael El Mayo Zambada Taken into U.S. Custody; Attorney Claims Abduction by El Chapo Son
Zambada is known for his ability to evade capture and negotiate with various factions, including rivals and officials. His removal from the cartel’s operations could trigger internal conflicts for control, potentially leading to increased violence as younger, more aggressive traffickers vie for power.
U.S. prosecutors have indicted Zambada in multiple cases, highlighting his role in importing vast quantities of narcotics into the United States.
Perez, offering limited additional comments beyond his statement, indicated that Zambada was lured to a meeting with Guzmán López under false pretenses. Perez’s claims were first reported by the Los Angeles Times, and no immediate response was received from the U.S. Justice Department regarding the lawyer’s assertions.
Court records do not list an attorney for Guzmán López, whose father is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.
A U.S. law enforcement official, speaking anonymously, suggested that Zambada was deceived into boarding the plane, believing he was traveling elsewhere. Specific details about who orchestrated this deception and Zambada’s intended destination were not disclosed.
Zambada appeared in federal court in El Paso, where he was informed of his charges and rights, pleading not guilty to various drug trafficking charges. He is being held without bond, with his next court hearing scheduled for the following Thursday.
