Prosecutors in Mexico have raised concerns about a possible deal between U.S. authorities and a Mexican drug lord who surrendered himself and another leader, allegedly to secure the transfer of his brother from a U.S. prison. Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office accused U.S. officials of not cooperating with information requests regarding the case. Additionally, they disclosed that the plane carrying the two drug lords to the United States in July had several registrations and identification numbers, some of which were falsified. The United States has refuted any involvement in the incident, stating that they were only made aware of it after the plane departed from northern Mexico.
The bizarre situation involves two Mexican drug lords, with one reportedly kidnapping the other and flying him to an airport near El Paso, Texas. Mexican authorities previously announced plans to charge Joaquín Guzmán López with treason for allegedly abducting Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, an older drug boss from a rival faction of the Sinaloa cartel, and forcing him onto the plane. Two of Zambada’s bodyguards, including a police officer, who went missing after the kidnapping, were believed to have been killed.
It is believed that Guzmán intended to surrender to U.S. authorities but may have taken Zambada along to facilitate the release of his half-brother, Ovidio Guzman, from a U.S. prison. Mexican prosecutors are looking into the connection between Ovidio’s custody status and Joaquin’s involvement in Zambada’s presumed kidnapping. Although Ovidio’s status was listed as changed by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at the end of July, details of the alteration were not provided.
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar asserted that Ovidio Guzman remains incarcerated and will be subjected to the Department of Justice’s judicial process. Mexican authorities also suggested that the plane used for the flight had multiple registrations, some falsified, and emphasized that the plane’s landing in the U.S. was authorized by U.S. agencies. Despite reaching out to U.S. entities for information regarding the flight, Mexican prosecutors claimed to have received no responses.
The complex investigation will involve interviews with law enforcement officials from Sinaloa state and forensic examiners to gather insights on the compound where the abduction and killings transpired. Previous allegations of misinformation from Sinaloa prosecutors have further complicated the case. Ismael Zambada, known for his elusive nature and sophisticated security detail, revealed that he attended the meeting with Guzmán under the pretense of resolving political animosities between local figures.
The incident has been an embarrassment for the Mexican government, especially as they were unaware of the detentions on U.S. soil. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has criticized U.S. involvement in targeting cartel leaders and questioned the effectiveness of such policies.
