U.S. captures powerful Mexican drug trafficker
At the close of business yesterday afternoon, we learned that U.S. authorities had captured renowned Mexican drug trafficker Ismael Zambada, alias Mayo. The drug lord landed in El Paso, Texas, allegedly lured by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of “Chapo” Guzmán's sons, who urged him to board a Beechcraft King Air to inspect properties near the U.S. border. Guzmán López turned himself in with Zambada apparently to help with the judicial situation of a brother prosecuted in the United States. His father is already serving a life sentence and an additional 30 years in case he is born again. All of these individuals are linked to the shadowy Sinaloa Cartel, an organization associated with drug trafficking to the United States—the natural market—and Europe, and numerous associated crimes—murders, bribery—to secure and expand its market share.
The DEA, FBI, and other agencies had been trying to get their hands on Mayo and the whole Guzman clan for some time, with the deadly fentanyl trafficking epidemic as the straw that broke the camel's back in recent years. “[Both] men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the [Sinaloa] Cartel's criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks”, said US Attorney General Merrick Garland. It is unclear how Mayo Zambada reacted to the realization that he had been taken against his will into US territory. One CNN source said that both Zambada and Guzman Lopez descended and surrendered without resistance, as if everything had been arranged with them. The elusive kingpin pleaded not guilty today.
Ismael Zambada, alias Mayo, in a file photo (source).Disrespect to Mexican authorities?
One of the most important elements in this whole plot is how the Mexican government was alerted of the capture of Mayo Zambada and Guzman Lopez only after it had already taken place. There is quite a statement in this way of acting by the U.S. forces, making a fool of their Aztec counterparts. It could be argued that they do not trust their ability to act against bigwigs like Zambada or that they assume they are colluding with them. With a truly overwhelming track record as a drug trafficker, Mayo had not spent a single day of his life in prison, well protected in his bunker called “El Alamo”. “What you have not been able to do in 40 years, we did it on our own”, seems to be the implicit message being sent from Washington. It is even sad to hear López Obrador asking for “a complete [and transparent] report” because he does not have all the elements about what happened.
Incoherence
In his usual morning conference this Friday, the Mexican president has once again been left in evidence when it comes to explaining the security crisis in the country. AMLO defends that the fact that more than 500 Mexicans—residents of Chiapas—have sought refuge in Guatemala due to the inability of their local, state and federal authorities to guarantee their safety does not imply that there is ungovernability. López Obrador is very prone to relativize the disturbing acts of violence taking place in the country over which he still presides. "There have been clashes lately in that region [of Chiapas] between two groups, [so] to take refuge [citizens] crossed into Guatemala", he tried to argue. It is uncertain that "everywhere" there are conflicts of this type, which generate forced displacements. There are, yes, in certain territories of Mexico or Colombia, for example. The Mexican leader also had to comment on a new political assassination. It was the case with the elected federal deputy Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, who was shot on Thursday night in Culiacán, Sinaloa state? Yes, in Sinaloa. López Obrador promised that the event would be investigated, but that at the time of the conference “there [was] not much information”.
Hector Melesio Cuen Ojeda was killed on Thursday (source).Oh Venezuela
Tensions and uncertainty over the Venezuelan electoral process that will have its big day next Sunday intensified after new developments on Friday. A flight carrying, among others, former presidents Mireya Moscoso (Panama) and Vicente Fox (Mexico), all members of an initiative viewed with hostility in Caracas, was stranded in Panama after being denied access to Venezuelan airspace. The powerful Bolivarian leader Diosdado Cabello had advanced this position. Also a Colombian female senator denounced having been deported, while from Madrid conservative leaders warned about the detention of a delegation of the Popular Party at the Caracas airport. Sunday will be a tough day in the region.
Stranded (source).And this is all for our report today. I have referenced the sources dynamically in the text, and remember you can learn how and where to follow the LATAM trail news by reading my work here. Have a nice day.
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