Sinaloa drug cartel chief Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada – in a letter written from jail and launched by his lawyer – particulars what he says led to his arrest in america.
“El Mayo” and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of many infamous kingpin El Chapo’s 12 youngsters, have been arrested close to El Paso, Texas on July 25 with out incident, federal authorities mentioned. The arrest of Zambada, a U.S. fugitive for a few years, “strikes at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast,” mentioned DEA Administrator Anne Milgram on the time.
Guzman Lopez, 38, allegedly duped Zambada,76, into boarding a airplane the day of their arrests, an individual conversant in the investigation confirmed to CBS Information, telling “El Mayo” they have been going to take a look at property in Mexico. Guzman Lopez was mentioned to have lower a deal with U.S. authorities on behalf of himself and his brother Ovidio Guzmán López.
CBS Information
“El Mayo” disputes this account within the letter obtained by CBS Information on Saturday. He wrote there have been “many inaccurate reports” and he’ll present the “true facts” from that day. He mentioned he needed everybody to know from the outset he didn’t flip himself in, have an settlement, or come voluntarily.
“To the contrary, I was kidnapped and brought to the U.S. forcibly and against my will,” he wrote.
Zambada wrote he was requested to attend a gathering by Guzman Lopez, to assist resolve variations among the many political leaders within the state of Sinaloa. On the morning of July 25, Zambada wrote, he arrived early for his or her assembly at Huertos del Pedregal simply outdoors of Culiacan. He noticed numerous armed males carrying inexperienced navy uniforms however trusting the assembly and the attendees he was led right into a darkish room, the place he mentioned he was ambushed. A hood was positioned over his head and he was positioned onto a airplane for a flight that took 2.5 to three hours, he wrote.
He arrived within the U.S. and was taken into custody by federal officers. “El Mayo” pleaded not responsible in court docket in El Paso, and waived his arraignment and detention hearings, in line with court docket data.
The cartel chief wrote within the letter that he didn’t kill Héctor Cuen, the previous Federal congressman and mayor of Culiacan, who was on the assembly. He additionally mentioned he had nothing to do with the disappearance of José Rosario Heras López, a commander within the State Judicial Police of Sinaloa, and safety element Rodolfo Chaidez who have been additionally on the assembly.
He mentioned any studies on the contrary have been false. He ended the letter calling on the governments of america and Mexico to be “transparent” about his abduction, subsequent disappearances, and demise.
“I also call on the people of Sinaloa to use restraint and maintain peace in our State,” Zambada wrote. “Nothing can be solved by violence. We have been down that road before, and everyone loses.”
Robert Legare contributed to this report.
