Mexico's failure to pursue El Mayo Zambada for half a century, claims Jeffrey Lichtman against Claudia Sheinbaum.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the founding leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, was arrested in the United States in July 2024. This arrest, which occurred under controversial circumstances, has sparked a debate about law enforcement, sovereignty, and the Mexican government's role in capturing major cartel figures.
El Mayo Zambada's elusive profile and strategic maneuvering kept him from Mexican authorities for decades. However, his arrest was not achieved in Mexico. Instead, he was reportedly lured from Mexico under false pretenses by Joaquín Guzmán López, son of "El Chapo," and subsequently detained on U.S. soil—an action Zambada characterised as a kidnapping in Mexico.
The circumstances of Zambada's transfer to U.S. authorities are now under investigation by the Mexican government. Concerns have been raised about potential violations of sovereignty or treason related to a Mexican citizen being handed over to foreign agents without due process. Additionally, Zambada has petitioned the Mexican government for extradition back to Mexico to face trial, a move that has raised political and legal questions.
Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors have declared they will not seek the death penalty against Zambada, a decision seen as an important step toward a potential plea deal and fair resolution of the case. This is significant given the high-profile nature of his criminal charges and his longstanding influence in drug trafficking and cartel violence.
The debate about Zambada's arrest has revived questions about why his arrest was never achieved in Mexico. Some, like Jeffrey Lichtman, Zambada's attorney, accuse the Mexican government of failing to act when it should have, implying a lack of moral authority to demand justice. Lichtman has also questioned the Mexican authorities' sudden interest in bringing Zambada to justice.
However, President Claudia Sheinbaum has declared that her administration will continue to request formal information from the United States government on Zambada's whereabouts. The Mexican President has not announced any plans for a defamation lawsuit against Lichtman, despite a statement to the contrary.
This situation illustrates the complexity of cross-border law enforcement involving major cartel figures and the diplomatic tensions it can generate. As the legal proceedings unfold, the international community will be watching closely to see how this high-profile case is resolved.
[1] The New York Times: El Mayo Zambada, Sinaloa Cartel Leader, Arrested in U.S. [2] BBC News: Mexico Investigates El Mayo Zambada's Transfer to U.S. Authorities [3] The Washington Post: El Mayo Zambada Petitions for Extradition Back to Mexico [4] CNN: U.S. Prosecutors Will Not Seek Death Penalty for El Mayo Zambada [5] The Guardian: El Mayo Zambada's Arrest Raises Questions About Mexican Government's Will to Capture Cartel Leaders
- The investigation by the Mexican government into the circumstances of El Mayo Zambada's transfer to U.S. authorities has led to discussions on policy-and-legislation regarding cross-border law enforcement and potential sovereignty violations.
- The ongoing debate about El Mayo Zambada's arrest and the subsequent political and legal questions about his potential extradition back to Mexico have made headlines in general-news and crime-and-justice sections of numerous international media outlets.
