In a dramatic and unexpected statement, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the elusive leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is claiming that his recent apprehension by U.S. authorities was not a voluntary surrender but the result of a betrayal by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of the infamous Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Zambada, a figure who had remained in the shadows of the drug trade for decades, alleges that he was kidnapped and forcibly brought to the United States in a covert operation that involved deception, violence, and treachery.
The Ambush: Zambada's Account
On July 25, 2024, Zambada, who was considered one of the most powerful and strategic figures in Mexico's drug trade, found himself in a situation he could not have anticipated. According to his statement, Zambada was "invited by Joaquín Guzmán López" to a meeting at a ranch near Culiacán, Sinaloa. The purpose of the meeting, he was told, was to mediate a dispute between local political leaders—Rubén Rocha Moya, the Governor of Sinaloa, and Héctor Melesio Cuen Ojeda, a former congressman and mayor.
Believing the meeting to be a standard gathering involving high-level discussions, Zambada agreed to attend. However, upon arriving at the location, he noticed an unusual number of armed men dressed in military uniforms. Still, he continued with the meeting, trusting his long-standing relationships with those involved.
As Zambada describes it, the moment he stepped into a darkened room, he was ambushed. "A group of men assaulted me, knocked me to the ground, and placed a dark-colored hood over my head," Zambada stated. He was bound, physically abused, and then transported to a private plane, where he was flown to El Paso, Texas, under duress. "The notion that I surrendered or cooperated voluntarily is completely and unequivocally false," he asserted.
Zambada's Influence and the Sinaloa Cartel
Ismael Zambada has been a central figure in the Sinaloa Cartel, often considered the "mastermind" behind the organization's operations. Unlike "El Chapo," who became a media sensation and was eventually captured and extradited to the U.S., Zambada avoided the limelight, focusing instead on strategic operations and maintaining control over the cartel's extensive drug trafficking network. His ability to elude capture for decades earned him a reputation as one of the most cunning and resourceful leaders in the drug trade.
The Sinaloa Cartel, under Zambada's leadership, has been responsible for a significant portion of the illegal drugs entering the United States, including fentanyl, which has contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis. The cartel's operations are vast, involving not only drug trafficking but also money laundering and, according to some reports, human smuggling. Zambada's low profile and strategic acumen made him a target of U.S. law enforcement agencies, which had placed a $15 million bounty on his head.
@reynaldolaraazteca El “Mayo” Zambada en la corte de Texas !!! @Azteca Noticias @adn40 @Hechos TVA #elpaso #Texas #elmayo
♬ original sound - ReynaldoLaraAzteca
The Allegations of Betrayal
Zambada's statement points to a complex web of betrayal and deception. He accuses Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of his former ally "El Chapo," of orchestrating the meeting that led to his capture. Guzmán López, who has been a lower-profile figure compared to his brother Ovidio, is alleged to have played a critical role in Zambada's downfall. The motive behind this betrayal is unclear, but it is not uncommon for power struggles and internal conflicts to arise within criminal organizations, particularly in the aftermath of significant disruptions such as the capture of "El Chapo."
The death of Héctor Melesio Cuen Ojeda, which Zambada claims occurred during the same operation, adds another layer of intrigue to the situation. Official reports suggested that Cuen was killed in an unrelated robbery, but Zambada insists that Cuen was a victim of the same plot that led to his capture. The whereabouts of Zambada's security personnel, who disappeared during the incident, remain unknown, further complicating the narrative.
Zambada's lawyer Frank Perez confirmed in an email to the Border Report that the case will be transferred to the Eastern District of New York. However, he did not mention the transfer date.
U.S. and Mexican Governments Under Scrutiny
Zambada's allegations have put both the U.S. and Mexican governments under scrutiny. The U.S. Justice Department has hailed Zambada's capture as a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking, but Zambada's version of events suggests that the operation may not have been as straightforward as it appears. He calls for transparency from both governments, urging them to reveal the truth about the events that led to his capture and the deaths of those involved.
His text also alledges that El Cartel de Sinaloa is deeply entrenched in Mexican politics, and has so much power that he could even mediate among elected officials and political leaders. Here is the whole text on El Mayo's own words:
STATEMENT OF ISMAEL ZAMBADA GARCÍA
Since I was brought by plane to the United States from Mexico on July 25, 2024, there have been many inaccurate reports in the media of both countries. In this statement I will provide the true facts of what happened that day. I wish to say at the outset that I did not turn myself in, and I did not come voluntarily to the United States. Nor did I have any agreement with either government. To the contrary, I was kidnapped and brought to the U.S. forcibly and against my will. The details of how this happened follow.
I was asked by Joaquin Guzmán Lopez to attend a meeting to help resolve diferences among the political leaders in our state. I was aware of an ongoing dispute between Rubén Rocha Moya, the Governor of Sinaloa, and Héctor Melesio Cuen Ojeda, the former Federal congressman, Mayor of Culiacan, and Rector of the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa (UAS), over who should lead that institution. I was told that in addition to Hector Cuen and Governor Rocha Moya, Iván Guzmán Salazar would also be present at the meeting.
On July 25th, I went to the ranch and event center called Huertos del Pedregal just outside of Culiacan where the meeting was to occur. The meeting was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and I arrived a little early. I saw a large number of armed men wearing green military uniforms who I assumed were gunmen for Joaquín Guzmán and his brothers. I was accompanied by four security personnel, of whom two stayed outside the perimeter. The two who entered with me were José Rosario Heras López, a Commander in the State Judicial Police of Sinaloa, and Rodolfo Chaidez, a long-time member of my security team.
While walking toward the meeting area, I saw Héctor Cuen and one of his aides. I greeted them briefly before proceeding inside to a room that had a table filled with fruit. I saw Joaquín Guzmán Lopez, whom I have known since he was a young boy, and he gestured for me to follow him. Trusting the nature of the meeting and the people involved, I followed without hesitation. I was led into another room which was dark.
As soon as I set foot inside of that room, I was ambushed. A group of men assaulted me, knocked me to the ground, and placed a dark-colored hood over my head. They tied me up and handcufed me, then forced me into the bed of a pickup truck. During this entire ordeal, I was subjected to physical abuse, resulting in significant injuries to my back, knee and wrists. I was then driven to a landing strip about 20 or 25 minutes away, where I was forced onto a private plane.Joaquin removed the hood from my head and bound me with zip ties to the seat. No one else was aboard the plane except Joaquin, the pilot, and myself.
The flight lasted about 2 ½ to 3 hours, without any stops until we arrived in El Paso, Texas. It was there on the tarmac that U.S. federal agents took custody of me. The notion that I surrendered or cooperated voluntarily is completely and unequivocally false. I was brought to this country forcibly and under duress, without my consent and against my will.
I am aware that the official version being told by Sinaloa state authorities is that Héctor Cuen was shot in the evening of July 25th at a gas station by two men on a motorcycle who wanted to rob his pick-up truck. That is not what happened. He was killed at the same time, and in the same place, where I was kidnapped. Héctor Cuen was a longtime friend of mine, and I deeply regret his death as well as the disappearance of José Rosario Heras López and Rodolfo Chaidez who no one has seen or heard from since.
I believe it is important for the truth to come out. This is what occurred, rather than the false stories that are circulating. I call on the governments of Mexico and the United States to be transparent and provide the truth about my abduction to the United States and about the deaths of Héctor Cuen, Rosario Heras, Rodolfo Chaidez, and anyone else who may have lost their life that day.
I also call on the people of Sinaloa to use restraint and maintain peace in our state. Nothing can be solved by violence. We have been down that road before, and everyone loses.
- Ismael Mayo Zambada
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