Mexico Weighs Treason Charges Following US Arrest of Cartel Leader

If you thought your Thanksgiving dinner family feuds were intense, try keeping up with the latest cartel news out of Mexico. Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the notorious alleged drug lord, was captured and handed over to U.S. authorities under questionable and dramatic circumstances. As if life south of the border wasn’t already complicated enough, Mexican prosecutors are now considering treason charges against those involved. This story is filled with cartel betrayals, clandestine flights, and diplomatic tensions worth a Hollywood blockbuster. Intrigued? Keep reading to get to the nitty-gritty of why Mexico considers this a treasonable offense.

El Mayo’s Arrest

The United States managed to arrest Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. The twist? He was unexpectedly flown into El Paso, Texas by none other than Joaquín Guzmán López, son of the infamous Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This sudden turn of events left U.S. officials bewildered as they certainly hadn’t been tipped off about an extra passenger aboard a flight arranged for Guzmán López to turn himself in.

Treason Charges in Mexico

Now, Mexican prosecutors, with the backing of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, are weighing treason charges against the perpetrators. The allegations are based on Mexico’s penal code, which slaps severe penalties on those who “illegally abduct a person in Mexico in order to hand them over to authorities of another country.” The maximum penalty? A whopping 40 years in the slammer.

What Happened?

Guzmán López is accused of kidnapping Zambada and practically gift-wrapping him for U.S. authorities. The plane he allegedly used to sneak Zambada across the border didn’t even bother filing a flight plan—talk about flying under the radar. Mexican prosecutors are deeply miffed, investigating “for the possible crimes of illegal flight, illicit use of airports, immigration and customs violations, kidnapping, treason, and any other crimes that may apply.”

Political and Cartel Fallout

President López Obrador has openly criticized the U.S. for what’s seen as an intrusive intervention, questioning if detaining drug cartel leaders really serves any productive purpose. “Why don’t they change that policy?” he asked. Meanwhile, Zambada’s lawyer claims his client was ambushed and abducted while thinking he was about to have a cozy chat with Sinaloa Gov. Rubén Rocha Moya. The governor denies any involvement, but relationships between drug traffickers and politicians in Sinaloa are now under the microscope.

Cartel Warfare

This twist in events is happening against a backdrop of an ongoing cartel turf war. Zambada’s faction of the Sinaloa cartel has had its fair share of skirmishes with the faction led by Guzmán’s sons. The U.S. had even dangled a $15 million reward for Zambada’s capture, underscoring his significance in the underworld.

Legal and International Implications

At the core of this drama lies a penal clause inserted into Mexican law after the 1990 abduction of a Mexican doctor—a precedent-setting case that bars such extraditions without proper legal proceedings. The Attorney General’s office has jumped into action, seeking more information from Sinaloa’s leadership.

The United States managed to arrest Mexico’s most-wanted drug lord, but Mexican prosecutors — and the president — now say they are considering bringing treason charges against those who handed him over.https://t.co/51Kxi3u7i9

— Border Report (@BorderReportcom) August 13, 2024

U.S. Court Appearance

Zambada appeared for the second time in a U.S. federal court in Texas earlier this August. As for Guzmán López, he had been in talks with U.S. authorities about his own surrender, pleading not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a Chicago court. Both men remain in U.S. custody facing numerous drug-related charges.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Mexico isn’t thrilled about a key figure in “one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world” being whisked away to American soil. They’re investigating an array of crimes that paint a vivid picture of clandestine operations at their utmost complexity.