Co-Founder of Sinaloa Drug Cartel Claims Forced Kidnapping and Transfer to US Custody

In a shocking development, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, has come forward with claims that he was abducted against his will and delivered into the custody of the United States authorities. The incident, which occurred last month, has generated international attention and sparked heated debates surrounding the circumstances leading up to Zambada's capture.

Zambada's statement, released through his lawyer on Saturday, aims to dispel the rumors and misinformation surrounding his arrest. US authorities had previously announced that Zambada, along with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, one of the sons of the cartel's other co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were detained on July 25 upon landing in El Paso, Texas, on a private plane.

However, Zambada's lawyer claims that his client was forcibly kidnapped by Guzman Lopez and six men dressed in military uniforms near the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan. They allegedly flew him to the United States against his will. On the other hand, the Guzman family's lawyer denies these kidnapping allegations, asserting that it was a voluntary surrender after extensive negotiations took place.

Zambada, in his statement, asserts the importance of revealing the truth about his arrest in response to what he calls "false stories" about his "abduction". He explains that he was invited by Guzman Lopez to a meeting at a ranch just outside Culiacan on the day of his capture. Trusting those involved, Zambada followed Guzman Lopez without hesitation, only to find himself ambushed upon entering a dark room where a group of men physically assaulted him, leading to injuries on his back, knee, and wrists. He was then forcibly transferred onto a pickup truck and subsequently onto a private plane waiting on a nearby landing strip.

Zambada further recounts that during the flight, Guzman Lopez removed his hood and bound him with zip ties to the seat. He emphasizes that apart from the pilot, no one else was present on the plane during the journey to El Paso. Upon landing, US federal agents took Zambada into custody directly on the tarmac.

These revelations from Zambada follow the acknowledgment by US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, who stated that the cartel leader was indeed brought to the United States against his will. Salazar clarified that no American resources were involved in the operation, emphasizing that it was an arrangement between rival cartels. The American embassy also confirmed that no flight plan was shared with US authorities, and the pilot was neither a US citizen nor hired by the US government.

Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, known to be more engaged in the day-to-day operations of the Sinaloa drug cartel than his counterpart "El Chapo", appeared in a Texas court last week, pleading not guilty to charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit murder. Similarly, Guzman Lopez, El Chapo's son, entered a not guilty plea to drug trafficking charges in a US court at the end of July.

The recent arrests have ignited concerns about escalating violence, prompting Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to publicly appeal to drug cartels to refrain from engaging in further conflicts. The toll of drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006 stands at a staggering 450,000 deaths, ever since the government initiated a military offensive against drug gangs during then-President Felipe Calderon's administration.

Despite the conflicting accounts surrounding Zambada's capture, the case remains one of great significance in the ongoing battle against drug cartels, revealing the complex and clandestine operations that continue to plague both Mexico and the United States.