Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Claims Kidnapping and Forced Extradition to the US
Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa drug cartel, asserts that he was kidnapped in Mexico and forcibly taken into United States custody against his will. The unfolding events surrounding his capture last month have captivated global attention.
Zambada released a statement claiming he was ambushed near Culiacan and flown to the US against his wishes by men in military uniforms. However, the Guzman family lawyer disputes this, stating it was a voluntary surrender following negotiations.
Zambada detailed how he was misled into a meeting by Joaquin Guzman Lopez, only to be assaulted, hooded, and transported to a private plane bound for El Paso. US authorities took him into custody upon arrival.
His account contradicts US Ambassador Ken Salazar’s version, where cartels collaborated to deliver Zambada to the US voluntarily. Zambada faces drug trafficking charges, while Guzman Lopez also pleaded not guilty in court.
As the situation unfolds, Mexican President Lopez Obrador has appealed for peace among drug cartels to avoid further violence. The case underscores the ongoing turmoil in Mexico’s drug war, with over 450,000 drug-related deaths since 2006.