In a shocking twist of events, the lawyer representing Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader who is now in U.S. custody, has pushed back against claims that his client was tricked into flying into the country. Instead, Zambada's attorney, Frank Perez, asserts that his client was "forcibly kidnapped" by Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán's son.

Zambada, who had managed to elude authorities for decades, found himself in prison for the first time after arriving at an airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas, on Thursday. Alongside him was Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of the notorious drug kingpin, "El Chapo." Both men now face various drug charges in the United States and remain behind bars.

According to Perez, his client did not willingly end up at the New Mexico airport. In a statement, Perez emphatically stated that "My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government. Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my client." Perez goes on to describe a violent scene where Zambada was ambushed, thrown to the ground, handcuffed by men in military uniforms, and ultimately thrown in the back of a pickup truck before being tied to a seat on a plane by Guzmán López.

Zambada, known for his ability to corrupt officials and negotiate with rivals, is facing multiple U.S. cases, including charges in New York and California. In February, he was the subject of a new indictment in New York that described him as the "principal leader of the criminal enterprise responsible for importing enormous quantities of narcotics into the United States."

Removing Zambada from the criminal landscape could potentially trigger a power struggle within the cartel, as seen with the arrest or elimination of other kingpins. Experts suggest that his absence might pave the way for a more aggressive and younger generation of Sinaloa traffickers to rise to prominence.

While Perez declined to provide further details, stating that his client was set up after being called to a meeting with Guzmán López, a spokesperson for the U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to claims made by Perez. Similarly, there was no listed attorney for Guzmán López, whose father is currently serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison.

An anonymous U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter revealed that Zambada was duped into flying to the U.S., believing that he was headed elsewhere. However, no additional information was given regarding who persuaded Zambada to board the plane or his intended destination.

Zambada made his initial appearance in federal court in El Paso on Friday, where he was informed of the charges against him and his rights. Currently held without bail, he has pleaded not guilty to multiple drug trafficking charges. His next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, according to Perez.

Despite the conflicting accounts, one thing remains clear: the arrest of Zambada has dealt a significant blow to the Mexican drug cartel landscape, potentially leading to a tumultuous power struggle and a more violent era in the cartel's operations.