In the hours after the arrest of Ismael Zambada Garcia, the last remaining godfather of Mexico‘s Sinaloa drug cartel, US officials gave their early understanding of the mystery at the centre of it all: How did a fugitive who had evaded capture for decades end up being delivered straight into their hands? Zambada Garcia, officials said, had been lured by a son of his former partner, the notorious drug lord El Chapo, onto a private plane that flew him without his permission over the border.
But after a fuller vetting of the account of El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, with people who had knowledge of it, US officials have since come away with a different and more dramatic version of what took place in Mexico. Zambada Garcia, one of his country’s most wanted men, had come down from a hideout in the mountains last week and was ambushed in Culiacan at what he thought would be a friendly meeting with Guzman Lopez, according to law enforcement officials. Guzman Lopez then forcibly flew Zambada Garcia across the border, where he was apprehended by US federal agents. That version of events echoed one that was recently offered by Zambada Garcia’s lawyer, who told news outlets his client had not been tricked into boarding the plane, but in fact had been abducted. Guzman Lopez, the lawyer said, waylaid Zambada Garcia with henchmen who handcuffed him, stuck a bag over his head and muscled him into a car and then on to the plane, where he remained bound.
Even now, precise events last Thursday that ended with Zambada Garcia and Guzman Lopez in US custody remain uncertain. Details about what happened that day could be revealed Wednesday, when Zambada Garcia heads to court.
Three officials told NYT the US govt had not been involved in, and had no real-time knowledge of, the methods used to get Zambada Garcia to the US. One official said the ambush in Culiacan turned violent as bodyguards loyal to Guzman Lopez clashed with those loyal to Zambada Garcia.
Experts say that even if Zambada Garcia arrived in the US under physical duress, it may have no effect on the criminal charges he is facing.
But Zambada Garcia’s lawyer may seek to make hay out of the kidnapping accusations, which could complicate efforts by US law enforcement to prosecute him – if not as a matter of law, then perhaps as a matter of diplomacy. Mexico has opened its own probe into the events and “crimes that may have occurred.” Prez Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said tbe US was in touch with Guzman Lopez for some time.
The discussions with the sons began nearly five years ago, not long after El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison. The goal of the talks had been to persuade Guzman Loera’s sons to spare themselves their father’s fate and surrender in the US, where they all face charges. That development spawned a conversation with US officials about Joaquin turning himself in and bringing along Zambada Garcia. Such a move would have two benefits for the Guzman brothers: getting favourable terms in plea deals and assisting the brothers who remain in Mexico by removing one of their chief rivals, Zambada Garcia.
But after a fuller vetting of the account of El Chapo’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, with people who had knowledge of it, US officials have since come away with a different and more dramatic version of what took place in Mexico. Zambada Garcia, one of his country’s most wanted men, had come down from a hideout in the mountains last week and was ambushed in Culiacan at what he thought would be a friendly meeting with Guzman Lopez, according to law enforcement officials. Guzman Lopez then forcibly flew Zambada Garcia across the border, where he was apprehended by US federal agents. That version of events echoed one that was recently offered by Zambada Garcia’s lawyer, who told news outlets his client had not been tricked into boarding the plane, but in fact had been abducted. Guzman Lopez, the lawyer said, waylaid Zambada Garcia with henchmen who handcuffed him, stuck a bag over his head and muscled him into a car and then on to the plane, where he remained bound.
Even now, precise events last Thursday that ended with Zambada Garcia and Guzman Lopez in US custody remain uncertain. Details about what happened that day could be revealed Wednesday, when Zambada Garcia heads to court.
Three officials told NYT the US govt had not been involved in, and had no real-time knowledge of, the methods used to get Zambada Garcia to the US. One official said the ambush in Culiacan turned violent as bodyguards loyal to Guzman Lopez clashed with those loyal to Zambada Garcia.
Experts say that even if Zambada Garcia arrived in the US under physical duress, it may have no effect on the criminal charges he is facing.
But Zambada Garcia’s lawyer may seek to make hay out of the kidnapping accusations, which could complicate efforts by US law enforcement to prosecute him – if not as a matter of law, then perhaps as a matter of diplomacy. Mexico has opened its own probe into the events and “crimes that may have occurred.” Prez Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said tbe US was in touch with Guzman Lopez for some time.
The discussions with the sons began nearly five years ago, not long after El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison. The goal of the talks had been to persuade Guzman Loera’s sons to spare themselves their father’s fate and surrender in the US, where they all face charges. That development spawned a conversation with US officials about Joaquin turning himself in and bringing along Zambada Garcia. Such a move would have two benefits for the Guzman brothers: getting favourable terms in plea deals and assisting the brothers who remain in Mexico by removing one of their chief rivals, Zambada Garcia.
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