Ever since Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada was arrested in Texas last week, there have been scores of recounts about how the historical apprehension came to be.
Ioan Grillo, a top reporter covering cartels and drug-trafficking in Mexico, published his own report of the events on Monday. Along with colleague Juan Alberto Cedillo, he explained how he was betrayed his godson, Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The incident occurred in Culiacán, Sinaloa, where Zambada was lured under the pretext of a meeting with Guzmán López and a Sinaloan politician. El Mayo had traveled to Culiacán from his hideout in Durango about a week earlier to get cancer treatment, the journalists said.
However, upon arriving at a designated residence, he was ambushed by gunmen loyal to Guzmán López. The attack overpowered four of El Mayo's bodyguards, who remain unaccounted for, while another bodyguard and an assistant managed to escape.
Bound and transported approximately 35 kilometers to the ranch of Lazareto, El Mayo was then flown north. The exact flight route remains unclear, with some reports suggesting a stop in Sonora before reaching the United States. The plane, carrying Zambada, Guzmán López, and a pilot, landed at Santa Teresa, a private airport near El Paso, Texas, where U.S. federal agents took Zambada into custody.
The report cites a former member of Zambada's security team, now incarcerated. This account contrasts with another version provided by anonymous U.S. federal agents, which suggested Zambada was tricked onto a plane to inspect a clandestine airstrip. The latter version has been met with skepticism, as it is unlikely that Zambada would undertake such an inspection without substantial security.
The security team member's account aligns with a statement from Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, who described an ambush and forced transportation of Zambada by individuals in military uniforms. The security team member also claimed that U.S. agents were present during the kidnapping in Culiacán, referring to them as "nuestros vecinos" (our neighbors), a cartel term for American law enforcement agents. However, he did not specify which agency they represented.
The Mexican government said it didn't play a role in the capture and demanded an explanation from the United States. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has sought clarification, while U.S. officials have maintained that the operation was not planned by any U.S. government agency. Rosa Icela Rodríguez, Mexico's security secretary, stated that the flight was not prearranged by U.S. authorities.
Speculation continues regarding the extent of U.S. involvement and the role of Sinaloan politicians. The initial meeting with Zambada was allegedly arranged with Héctor Melesio Cuén, a prominent political figure in Sinaloa. Cuén was ambushed and shot on the same night as Zambada's capture, with state prosecutors labeling it a robbery, although suspicions of cartel retaliation remain.
In the aftermath, there are varying theories about Zambada's capture, with some suggesting he may have surrendered. However, evidence points more convincingly towards a kidnapping. Tensions within the Sinaloa Cartel are high, with factions loyal to Zambada bracing for potential violence as they process what many are calling a betrayal.
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