Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the United States lied about its involvement in the capture and secretive transfer of a top Sinaloa cartel member in 2024, in what would be a potential violation of the country's sovereignty.
Background of the Capture
In July 2024, Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García, a founder of the Sinaloa cartel, was tricked by fellow trafficker Joaquín Guzmán López into boarding a small plane inside Mexico and flying into Texas. US authorities arrested both men at an airport near El Paso. The US has long denied any role in the operation, but recent reporting by the local media outlet Pie de Nota suggested that the FBI was involved.
Official Reactions
Mexico Attorney General Ernestina Godoy stated on Wednesday, 'If recent reports are confirmed, then all signs point to three serious issues: a series of violations of Mexican and international law; a pact made outside the bounds of the law; and a lie told by a US diplomat, which would constitute a breach of the cornerstone principle of good faith in diplomatic relations.' President Claudia Sheinbaum added at a news conference on Thursday, 'The issue here is whether there was a violation of sovereignty.'
The row comes at a delicate moment in US-Mexico relations. Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to launch a ground invasion in Mexico to attack drug cartels, and in April 2024, reports emerged that CIA agents had been involved in a raid on a drug lab in northern Mexico without federal government approval.
Evidence and Discrepancies
The plane used in the operation was recently displayed at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. A plaque next to the plane notes that two FBI agents 'successfully executed a highly complex, secretive and daring arrest of two of the world's most wanted fugitives.' Godoy said Mexican officials attempted to inspect the plane in August 2024 but were barred from thorough inspection or photography. She also accused the US of providing 'false or inaccurate identification data for that aircraft.'
Former US Ambassador Ken Salazar reiterated on Wednesday, 'It was not our plane, not our pilot, and not our operation. La verdad es la verdad, the truth is the truth.' However, the plaque's mention of FBI involvement contradicts this assertion.
