Civil war in the Sinaloa Cartel: Was El Mayo kidnapped by El Chapo's son?

In a statement on Saturday, the lawyer for Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the founders of the Sinaloa Cartel, said that his client was forcibly kidnapped by the son of his former partner, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, and brought to the United States.

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Civil war in the Sinaloa Cartel: Was El Mayo kidnapped by El Chapo's son?

Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, said that El Chapo's son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and six men in military uniforms ambushed Zambada near the city of Culiacan in Mexico, forced him onto a plane, and brought him to the U.S. against his will.

Zambada pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a federal court in El Paso on Friday.

CLAIMS OF KIDNAPPING BY FORMER PARTNER'S SON

In his statement, Perez said, "Joaquin Guzman Lopez forcibly kidnapped my client."

When asked about Perez's claim, Guzman Lopez's lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, stated, "I have no comment other than to say that Mr. Zambada is free to enter whatever plea he wishes to the charges against him."

In a statement on Friday, Perez had said that Zambada did not come to the U.S. voluntarily, but he had not used the word "kidnapped" at that time.

In discussions held over two days, numerous U.S. officials briefed on the operation made no mention of any allegations that Guzman Lopez had used force.

EL CHAPO'S SON WAS PLANNING TO SURRENDER

According to two current and one former official who spoke to Reuters early Saturday, Guzman Lopez, who was planning to surrender, tricked Zambada into boarding the plane by telling him they were flying to inspect real estate in northern Mexico.

The plane landed at a small municipal airport near El Paso instead of the stated destination, where federal agents took the 70-something Zambada and 38-year-old Guzman Lopez into custody.

The operation is considered a blow for U.S. officials that could reshape Mexico's criminal underworld.

Zambada is one of the most significant traffickers in Mexican history, but it has been reported that his relationship with El Chapo's sons has been strained since their father was extradited to the U.S. in 2017.

El Chapo is serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado.

Guzman Lopez is expected to make his first appearance next week in a federal court in Chicago, where he faces charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.

Zambada is expected to appear in court again on Thursday.

News Source: 12punto