View of the front pages of Mexican newspapers showing the news of the capture of drug cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, in Mexico City, Mexico on July 26, 2024. Mexican authorities reported that they had no participation in the arrest of Ismael “Mayo” Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, and of a son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, carried out on July 25 in Texas by US authorities. (Photo by Rodrigo Oropeza / Agence France-Presse)
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — The United States has denied orchestrating the capture of Mexican drug cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who arrived in Texas on a private plane last week, Mexico said Monday.
US agents received around two hours’ notice that the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder — one of Mexico’s most-wanted drug traffickers — was on board the aircraft, Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said.
The information appeared to support the theory that Zambada was betrayed by his partners.
The 76-year-old was detained on Thursday after disembarking at an airport near El Paso with Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another cartel co-founder, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
READ: US arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel
US authorities were informed on several previous occasions that Guzman Lopez was considering surrendering, according to the information received from Washington, Rodriguez said.
On Thursday morning, information received by authorities indicated that Guzman Lopez planned to arrive on a private flight that day to turn himself in.
US media have quoted law enforcement sources as saying that Zambada was unwittingly lured across the border by Guzman Lopez, one of El Chapo’s four sons.
READ: Mexico drug cartel leader lured onto airplane before arrest in US
According to a US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report released in May, the sons were engaged in an “internal battle” against Zambada, their father’s former partner.
Mexico has said that it was not involved in the capture of Zambada, who is reportedly in ill health.
The United States had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.