Ismael Zambada, the boss of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, reveals details of the kidnapping that brought him to the United States.
"I was ambushed," drug lord Ismael Zambada said in a statement released by his lawyer today, adding that the move was to "clear up rumours and false information".
On July 25, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) coordinated with US domestic security agencies to arrest Zambada, 76, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, over 30, in El Paso, Texas. The Mexican government said they were not informed of any information about the secret operation by US officials.
In a statement, Zambada said he was invited by Guzman Lopez to a meeting at his ranch near the Mexican city of Culiacan on July 25. "I met several people before I saw Guzman Lopez, whom I have known since I was a boy, and he signaled me to follow him," the statement said.
Sketch of Zambada at court in Texas, US on August 1. Photo: Reuters
Zambada said he trusted the people present and immediately followed Guzman Lopez without hesitation. "I was led to a dark room. As soon as I entered, a group of people attacked me, knocked me down and covered my head with a dark cloth. They tied me up and handcuffed me, then threw me into the back of a pickup truck," the drug lord said.
Ismael Zambada said he suffered significant injuries to his back, knees and wrists during the process. The car took Zambada to a nearby airport, before he was forced onto a private plane. "Guzman Lopez removed the hood over my head and tied me to the seat. There was only him, the pilot and me on the plane," the statement said.
The plane flew straight to El Paso, where FBI agents arrested Zambada on the tarmac.
US and Mexican officials have not commented on the information.
Zambada and Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, father of Joaquin Guzman Lopez, were the founders of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel in northern Mexico. After "El Chapo" was arrested, Zambada was considered the leader of the cartel. This kingpin has been a top target of US law enforcement for decades, with a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture.
Ismael Zambada (left) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Photo: US State Department
Zambada appeared in a Texas courtroom in a wheelchair last week, pleading not guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder. Guzman Lopez was transferred to Chicago, Illinois, and has also pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking.
The arrests of Zambada and Guzman Lopez are feared to destabilize or even cause violence in the cartel's territory in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa. The Sinaloa criminal organization is made up of factions, networks and groups that sometimes cooperate but also sometimes conflict with each other.
It is not yet clear why Joaquin betrayed his elders in the cartel, but sources say he most likely wanted to strike a better deal with the US and help his brother Ovidio, who was arrested and extradited to the US in 2023. Since their father's arrest, El Chapo's sons have been fighting for power with the group led by Zambada.