Lawyer representing cartel boss ‘El Mayo’ claims client was abducted and taken to the United States

HOUSTON — The attorney of a influential Mexican drug cartel leader who is currently in U.S. custody resisted claims on Sunday that his client was deceived into flying into the country, stating that he was “forcibly abducted” by the son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada had evaded authorities for many years and had never been imprisoned until a plane transporting him and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of the infamous drug lord “El Chapo,” landed at an airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, close to El Paso, Texas, last Thursday. Both individuals, who are confronting multiple U.S. drug accusations, were apprehended and are currently detained.

Frank Perez, Zambada’s legal representative, affirmed that his client did not arrive at the New Mexico airport willingly.

“My client neither surrendered nor bargained with the U.S. government,” Perez stated. “Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly abducted my client. He was surprised, thrown to the ground, and restrained by six men in military attire and Joaquin. His legs were bound, and a black sack was placed over his head.” Perez continued to mention that Zambada, 76, was tossed in the rear of a pickup truck, compelled onto a plane, and fastened to the seat by Guzmán López.

Referred to as a shrewd operator adept at corrupting officials, Zambada is renowned for his ability to negotiate with everyone, including adversaries. He is indicted in numerous U.S. lawsuits, including in New York and California. Prosecutors filed a new indictment against him in New York in February, portraying him as the “principal leader of the criminal organization accountable for smuggling vast quantities of narcotics into the United States.”

Removing him from the criminal scene could initiate a tumultuous internal conflict for supremacy over the cartel, as has happened with the detention or executions of other kingpins. Specialists suggest it could also create an opportunity for a more brutal, younger generation of Sinaloa traffickers to advance.

Perez refused to provide further comments beyond his statement on Sunday, stating only that his client had minimal security detail and was lured into a setup after being summoned to a meeting with Guzmán López.

Perez’s remarks were initially published by the Los Angeles Times.

A representative for the U.S. Department of Justice did not promptly respond to an email seeking remarks on Perez’s assertions. Legal documents did not list a lawyer for Guzmán López, whose father is serving a lifetime sentence in a U.S. penitentiary.

As per a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the situation, Zambada was deceived into flying into the U.S.

The cartel chief boarded an aircraft believing he was going elsewhere, as stated by the official, who requested anonymity due to the lack of authorization to discuss the matter. The official did not disclose specifics such as who convinced Zambada to board the plane or where precisely he thought he was headed.

Zambada made an appearance in federal court in El Paso on Friday morning, where a judge presented the charges against him and informed him of his rights. He is detained without bail and has pleaded not guilty to various drug trafficking charges, according to court records. Perez mentioned that his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.

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