Sinaloa Drug Cartel Leader Claims Kidnapping
In late July, a private propeller plane from Mexico landed near El Paso, Texas, with a 76-year-old man on board whose drug cartel supplied the vast majority of Chicago’s fentanyl and other deadly drugs.
El Mayo Zambada, a leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel, has been an American fugitive for decades. He now claims he was kidnapped, zip-tied, beaten, hooded and flown across the border by his cartel associates, including the son of notorious drug lord El Chapo.
Culiacan: Hub of Drug Supply to Chicago
Culiacan, Mexico, is 2,200 miles from Chicago and serves as the central supply point for 80% of the drugs entering Chicago, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The city is known for being the headquarters of the Sinaloa drug cartel, previously led by El Chapo who is now serving a life sentence.
El Mayo Zambada, as El Chapo’s partner and cartel co-founder, has witnessed decades of cartel conflict, community devastation, and challenges for law enforcement in controlling the cartel’s activities.
Allegations of Betrayal and Intrigue
On July 25, El Mayo arrived at Rancho Culiacan and was involved in a violent altercation where he claims he was ambushed, attacked, and forcibly removed. These events led to his unexpected arrival in Texas and subsequent involvement with FBI agents. The Mexican president has raised concerns about potential involvement by the U.S. Department of Justice and has called for transparency in the handling of Mexican citizens in such operations.
Legal representatives are investigating the claims made by El Mayo, with implications on the actions of El Chapo’s son Joaquín Guzmán Lopez. The complexity of the situation underscores the intricate web of alliances, betrayals, and power struggles within the world of drug cartels.
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