Cartel leader ambushed, drugged, and extradited to U.S., details of plea deal show

Armed assailants entered through a window to capture Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the most elusive leaders of the Sinaloa cartel. He was then sedated, placed on a plane, and taken across the U.S. border, according to testimony during the plea hearing of the drug trafficker responsible for the abduction.

Joaqun Guzmn Lpez, 39, the son of former cartel leader Joaqun "El Chapo" Guzmn, admitted in federal court in Chicago to drug trafficking and running a continuing criminal enterprise. He acknowledged overseeing shipments of tens of thousands of pounds of drugs to the United States.

As part of the plea, U.S. prosecutors revealed details about Zambadas capture, a question that had puzzled authorities since his disappearance in July 2024. While the agreement did not explicitly name Zambada, a letter from him indicated he was summoned to a meeting by Guzmn Lpez and then forcibly taken.

Andrew Erskine, an attorney for the U.S. government, clarified that the abduction of the unnamed individual was an attempt to demonstrate cooperation with U.S. authorities, which were not complicit. Guzmn Lpez will not receive any credit for cooperation due to the kidnapping.

The arrests angered Mexicos then-President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador, who suspected U.S. involvement, though Washington consistently denied it. Experts noted, however, that such an operation would have been extremely difficult without at least some knowledge from U.S. authorities.

In court, Erskine described how Guzmn Lpez had removed glass from a floor-to-ceiling window prior to the meeting. Armed men entered, restrained the target, placed a hood over his head, and transported him to a plane. Onboard, Zambada was tied up and given sedatives before the plane landed at a New Mexico airport near the Texas border.

Zambadas letter described being called to a meeting near Culiacan, Sinaloa, with local politicians, one of whom was later killed. He noted the presence of armed men in military-style uniforms, presumed to be aligned with "El Chapos" sons, known as the "Chapitos." Despite rivalries, Zambada trusted Guzmn Lpez enough to follow him into a dark room.

During the flight, only the pilot, Zambada, and Guzmn Lpez were present. Zambada was given a sedative-laced drink, which Guzmn Lpez also consumed in small amounts.

Mexico's Attorney General's Office stated it is examining possible treason charges against Guzmn Lpez or others involved. The arrests triggered violent conflicts between cartel factions in Sinaloa, a situation that continues under President Claudia Sheinbaum.

With the plea deal, defense attorney Jeffrey Lichtman suggested Guzmn Lpez is likely to avoid a life sentence. "El Chapo" Guzmn is serving life in prison after his 2019 conviction for smuggling vast quantities of cocaine and other drugs into the U.S. over 25 years.

Earlier this year, Mexican authorities confirmed that 17 family members of the cartel leaders entered the U.S. as part of a deal involving one of "El Chapos" sons. Among them were his ex-wife Griselda Lopez Perez and her daughter, according to local media reports.

Author: Sophia Brooks