Attorney Frank Perez said on Friday (local time) in federal court in El Paso, Texas, that El Chapo’s son Joaquin Guzman Lopez and six men in military uniforms ambushed Zambada near Culiacan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa and forced him onto a plane.
Zambada was brought to the United States against his will. He and the son of “El Chapo” were arrested there. The incident caused Zambada problems with his back and legs, said his lawyer.
In a wheelchair in court
Zambada, who appeared in court in a wheelchair at an initial hearing, pleaded not guilty to drug charges against him. Guzman Lopez’s lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman declined to comment on the kidnapping charge. The US Department of Justice and the Mexican president’s office were not immediately available for comment.
The arrest of the two leaders of one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world was a major success for the US authorities. Zambada is one of the biggest drug traffickers in Mexican history. The relationship between him and the sons of “El Chapo” has been strained since their father was extradited to the United States in 2017. There, “El Chapo” is serving a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Colorado.
Joaquin Guzman Lopez is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court in Chicago next week on drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Zambada is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.
