Mexico opens investigation after arrest of drug lord El Mayo

El Mayo was arrested Thursday near El Paso, Texas, after landing in a small plane from Mexico. Unnamed U.S. officials said he appeared to have been lured by the son of former Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.

Newspapers report on the arrest of Mexican drug lord Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of "El Chapo" Guzman, in Mexico July 26, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Gustavo

However, Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, denied this story on Saturday and claimed that El Mayo was violently kidnapped by El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez - who was also on the plane and was arrested in the incident.

Perez said Guzman Lopez and six men in military uniforms ambushed Zambada near Culiacan, in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, forced him onto a plane and took him to the United States against his will. El Mayo pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges on Friday in federal court in El Paso.

Mexican Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said the federal attorney general's office had "opened an investigation in the state of Sonora into possible crimes that may have occurred," including the flight's point of departure and other details.

Minister Rodriguez said Mexican authorities were not involved in the operation and were only informed on the day of the arrest.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador insisted at a press conference on Monday that his armed forces were not involved in El Mayo's capture, although Zambada's lawyer claimed that men in military uniforms ambushed the reputed boss.

Rodriguez also said that US officials had told Mexican authorities that they were unaware that both drug traffickers were on the plane. US officials had said that “the flight was not planned by any US agency,” even though US agents knew that Guzman Lopez had intended to surrender.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/mexico-mo-cuoc-dieu-tra-sau-vu-bat-giu-trum-ma-tuy-el-mayo-post305479.html