The Dramatic Capture of Ismael Zambada García: Betrayal and Ambush

The Capture of Ismael Zambada García: A Dramatic Turn of Events

In the wake of the arrest of Ismael Zambada García, the last remaining leader of Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, U.S. officials were initially left puzzled by how a fugitive, who had skillfully evaded capture for decades, ended up falling directly into their grasp.

According to early reports, Mr. Zambada García had been lured onto a private plane by Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of his former associate and infamous drug lord, El Chapo. The flight, however, was conducted without Mr. Zambada García’s consent, leading to questions about the circumstances surrounding his capture.

As U.S. officials delved deeper into the situation, their understanding of events shifted dramatically. After thorough discussions with sources familiar with the incident, they uncovered a more intricate narrative of betrayal and ambush. Mr. Zambada García, one of Mexico’s most wanted criminals, had recently descended from his mountainous hideout and was caught off guard in the city of Culiacán. He had anticipated a friendly meeting with Mr. Guzmán López, but instead, he was ambushed.

According to three federal law enforcement officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Mr. Guzmán López orchestrated a meticulously planned operation. He forcibly transported Mr. Zambada García aboard a Beechcraft King Air turboprop across the U.S. border, where he was subsequently apprehended by American federal agents.

This revised account parallels statements made by Mr. Zambada García’s lawyer, who asserted to The New York Times and other media outlets that his client had not been deceived into boarding the aircraft. Instead, he claimed that Mr. Zambada García had been the victim of a kidnapping. The lawyer, Frank Perez, stated that Mr. Guzmán López had ambushed his client with a group of armed henchmen who handcuffed him, placed a bag over his head, and forcibly transported him to the car and then onto the plane, where he remained bound throughout the flight.

In a poignant statement released to the press, Perez emphasized, “My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government. Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my client.” The dramatic details surrounding this high-profile arrest continue to unfold, revealing the treacherous dynamics within the world of organized crime.