The drug lord "El Mayo" Zambada, who is accused of having controlled the Sinaloa cartel's smuggling of the synthetic opioid fentanyl, arrived in Texas at the end of July on a plane and was arrested then. At the same time, Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of the imprisoned cartel boss "El Chapo", was arrested.
Zambada's lawyer, Frank Perez, stated at the end of July that his client was kidnapped by Joaquín Guzmán López and taken to the USA against his will.
Speculated
However, 76-year-old Zambada's age and apparent poor health have led to speculation that he actually surrendered to American authorities. But that is not the case, confirms the US Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, now.
Salazar states that Zambada was "taken against his will".
This was a maneuver between cartels, where one turned against the other, he says.
The part of the Sinaloa cartel controlled by Zambada has been at odds with another faction, led by "El Chapo's" sons.
Surprised
Salazar claims that no American personnel or planes, or other resources, were involved in the flight that led to Guzmán López surrendering to American authorities.
According to Ken Salazar, the American officials were "surprised" when the two drug lords showed up at the airport in Texas.
Both men have been charged in the USA for various drug offenses.
