The U.S. embassy in Mexico announced on Friday that Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of notorious cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, has voluntarily surrendered to U.S. authorities. This development contrasts with claims regarding Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a former partner of Guzmán’s father, who reportedly was taken against his will.
Guzmán López, along with Zambada, faces drug trafficking charges in the United States. The circumstances surrounding their arrests have sparked controversy and differing accounts from their legal representatives. Zambada’s lawyer alleges that Guzmán López, accompanied by six men in military uniforms, forcibly abducted his client near Culiacán in Sinaloa state and transported him to the U.S. The defense attorney for Guzmán López refutes these claims, insisting that the surrender was the result of lengthy negotiations and was conducted voluntarily.
The U.S. embassy clarified that American resources were not involved in the operation. The embassy’s statement emphasized that the surrender did not utilize U.S. planes, pilots, or personnel, and that the flight plan had not been shared with U.S. authorities. The pilot involved was neither a U.S. citizen nor contracted by the U.S. government.
“This represents a significant achievement for both nations,” the embassy’s statement read. “It reflects a precise and respectful collaboration between our countries, carried out in accordance with our respective sovereignties and partnership principles.”
This situation has drawn criticism from Mexico’s president, who has expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of cooperation between the two nations. The differing accounts of the arrests and the complex nature of the operation highlight ongoing tensions and challenges in the U.S.-Mexico partnership in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.
