Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada to appear in Texas after arrest at U.S. border

Details on drug trafficking, money laundering and murder charges will be provided at a hearing in federal court in El Paso. Zambada pleaded “not guilty” during his first court appearance Friday, a day after his arrest, appearing frail.

Zambada and his lawyer, Frank Pérez, are due to appear in court at 1:00 pm local time. Pre-trial proceedings could begin in the coming months. At this stage, the Mexican boss could provide valuable information.

Mike Vigil, the former chief of international operations for the DEA, said Zambada, who co-founded the Sinaloa drug cartel with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán in the 1980s, could provide critical information about senior Mexican politicians who provided protection for the cartel.

Vergil recalls that Jesús Vicente Zambada, known as “El Vicentillo” and the son of “El Mayo,” was extradited to the United States in 2010. After a deal was struck, he became one of “El Chapo’s” informants. Apparently, “El Vicentillo” was free in the United States.

“His son, Vicente, said at his extradition that his father had a budget of $1 million per month for bribes,” Vigil recalled in a conversation with the agency.

Zambada, 76, was arrested last Thursday along with Joaquin “El Mayo” Guzman Lopez, son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, after a private plane landed at the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, airport near El Paso, Texas, where he is currently being prosecuted.

Guzman Lopez was also detained but transferred to Chicago. It was announced there on Tuesday that “Not guilty” Drug trafficking. His lawyers have ruled out the possibility of Guzman reaching a deal with the U.S. government.

Kidnapping?

Attorney Frank Perez announced to the media that his client had been kidnapped and then transferred to the United States by plane.

“This is illogical, the head of the cartel would not leave without a security escort (…) Apparently, Guzman Jr. told ‘El Mayo’ to visit a ranch and then take a flight to Santa Teresa, Nevada, Mexico,” Vergeire added.

Guzman Jr.’s attorney, Jeffrey Leachman, clarified that his client has not been charged with kidnapping.

Mexican authorities reported that they had no involvement in the operation, detailing that the United States also denied orchestrating it. According to a U.S. report to Mexico, the agents who detained “El Mayo” and Guzman Jr. had no idea that Zambada, for which the United States offered $15 million, was on the plane.

Mexico reported that the United States had been informed “on several previous occasions” that Guzman López intended to surrender, but said that intention never materialized.

Last Thursday morning, a new report indicated that Guzman López planned to surrender on a private plane into US territory, but no further details were provided. According to Mexican authorities, the information that “El Mayo” was aboard the plane was received about two hours before the plane landed in Santa Teresa.

US authorities awaited their arrival and arrested the passengers after landing. After the arrest, rumors circulated that Ovidio Guzman, another son of “El Chapo” who was imprisoned in the United States, became a protected witness. Washington clarified that he was still in custody.

According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), El Chapo’s children, known as Los Chapitos, are engaged in an “internal struggle” with El Mayo, who is “in poor health” and stand to lose power in the criminal organization.

been: US denies plans to capture Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada

Revenge of the Son

For Vergil, Guzman López betrayed Ismael Zambada “out of revenge for what his family (El Vicentillo) did to his father” Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman (who is imprisoned in the United States). In addition, both Guzman López and his incarcerated brother will seek prison benefits.

Vergeire believes Zambada’s arrest will not have a major impact on the cartel because its infrastructure remains intact. “This is the most powerful cartel in the world,” he said. He does not foresee a bloodbath with whoever succeeds him because that would benefit his rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In his opinion, “Zambada wins. He’s been in the drug business for 50 years and has never been to prison until now, and he’s sick. “I don’t think he’ll live more than five or 10 years, which is what he’s going to do in prison. “