By Ricardo Lezama The unlikelihood of a El Chapo’s children kidnapping El Mayo can not be overstated. Serious analysts, like Jesus Esquivel, have long alleged that there have been negotiations between El Mayo and the DEA for a surrender. The Mexican capo has long been in ill health – some analysts how the DEA knows this – while also dealing with the arrest and sanctions placed on his eldest son, Vicente Zambada Niebla.
Nonetheless, through this lawyer, Ismael Zambada is affirming the official version given by US Ambassador Ken Salazar and leaked to the press by law enforcement shortly after his arrest.
To recap: most outlets and law enforcement communications have maintained that El Mayo was captured and somehow betrayed, during an ambush he was hog tied and sent to New Mexico via men working for Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Why do some analysts dismiss even the own capo’s purported public statements? Let’s explore why someone that high-profile would have to run a sort of propaganda campaign to justify irregularities in his detention.
Context On El Mayo
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was a calculated drug capo of the old guard. For instance, Ismael Zambada was present during the various iterations of previous plaza systems in Mexico. He was even around for a time in which the current minister of electricity, Manuel Barlett, was rumored to have taken bribes and coordinated training camps for Nicaraguan Contras. Below, you can see a video of Barlett in the midst of an assembly to define nationalistic energy policy in Mexico:
The nearly 80 year old godfather of Mexican drug trafficking had prudently eschewed drug trafficking no-no’s, like mass kidnappings, extortion and other quality of life related crimes, all in favor of a plaza system and syndication of drug trafficking routes. That the activity of moving illicit drugs is not lost to anyone, but many in Mexico regarded him as a capo who simply trafficked drugs and didn’t bother normal people in the course of this illegal activity.
El Mayo’s Lawyer Presents Case & Public Statement
In recent publications, the focus has been on the contentious allegations made by the co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, implicating Sinaloa’s Governor, Rubén Rocha Moya, in a covert collaboration with the notorious drug cartel – Cartel de Sinaloa. Mayo, speaking through his lawyer, discussed his connection with this key Mexican politician as related to his alleged kidnapping.
The comments sparked a debate on social media, with critics questioning the credibility of El Mayo’s statements and hypothesizing that he would say whatever it took to save himself, including implicating political figures. A number of users echoed and supported the allegations, asserting that El Mayo was speaking the truth and hinting that his revelations could potentially shake up Mexican politics. The State Governor has vehemently denied all allegations, deeming them as blatant attempts to tarnish his reputation. Speculations have also arisen regarding potential cooperation or indifference from U.S. agencies, sparking further controversy.
Under all conditions, Mayo may simply be looking for a legal mechanism from which to not be immediately tried and implicated so that he can secure the best deal for himself and his family.