The Ongoing Lie of the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Regarding the Capture of 'El Mayo' Zambada

Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar responded to the discussions regarding the capture process of drug lord Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada and rejected the claims. Salazar insisted that the U.S. government had no role in the operation, with his mixed English and Spanish statement, 'The truth is the truth.' Salazar, who also tried to answer the questions posed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, emphasized that the situation needs to be further clarified. Additionally, he reminded that together with former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, they informed the Mexican government about the issue. However, Mexican officials believe these statements do not reflect the truth.

The Attorney General's Office of Mexico (FGR) announced that Salazar's statements are incorrect, stating that it was determined the plane and the pilot used during the operation belonged to the U.S. The FGR stated that a U.S. diplomat lying constitutes a major breach of trust in diplomatic relations between the countries. This situation further increased the tension between the two countries and led to mutual trust being questioned. While it is noted that investigations into the matter are deepening, FGR officials claim that the U.S. is avoiding cooperation. These developments raise major questions about how transparently cross-border crime operations are being conducted.

In recent days, a significant development occurred regarding Mauro Alejandro, a.k.a. 'El Jando', who was identified as the pilot of the plane that kidnapped Zambada. It emerged that Mauro Alejandro was taken to U.S. soil by El Chapo's sons and later deported. Mexican authorities announced that the pilot was previously arrested for firearms possession but was subsequently handed over to the U.S. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the pilot is a key figure for Los Chapitos and holds critical importance for the activities of international drug cartels. The pilot's plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice in Nisan 2026 increased suspicions that Mexico was not involved in this process.

Mexico made an official request to the U.S. for the extradition of Zambada, but this request remains inconclusive. The U.S. Department of Justice stated that they cannot currently fulfill the extradition request on the grounds that there is an ongoing case against Zambada in a district court in their country. This situation seems likely to lead to Zambada being tried before the U.S. justice system and likely being sentenced to a long prison term. Mexico, however, continues to insist that its citizen should be tried in their own country. However, how the process will conclude within the framework of international law and bilateral agreements currently remains uncertain.

All these developments once again reveal the complex dynamics in the drug war and cross-border security policies between the U.S. and Mexico. As announced by Attorney General Ernestina Godoy, the FBI considering the capture of Zambada as a part of its own operations shows that a diplomatic crisis is on the verge. While cooperation between the two countries is severely shaken by deep trust issues and diplomatic accusations, the FGR's investigation into the matter continues at full speed. Although officials on both sides of the border act within their own legal systems, such events have the potential to leave deep and lasting marks on international relations. Increasing diplomatic mechanisms and transparency has become mandatory to prevent similar crises in the future.