The capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada would generate conflicts within the Sinaloa cartel due to the dispute for power, violence that in the coming weeks would have repercussions in the areas where the groups related to that structure operate, which would exacerbate migration into national territory, says the National Civil Police (PNC) and several organizations.
Following Zambada’s arrest, different versions of his capture have come to light and unofficial information from Mexican police sources indicates that he turned himself in to the authorities, but there is also talk that Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is believed to have betrayed his father’s former partner at the head of the Sinaloa cartel.
Apparently, Guzmán López convinced Mayo Zambada to travel with him on a plane bound for northern Mexico. But the plane landed in El Paso, Texas, where US agents arrested them, according to the AFP news agency.
According to a report by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) published in May, “Los Chapitos,” as the sons of “El Chapo” are known, are waging an internal battle against “El Mayo,” who at 76 years old is not in good health and has reportedly lost power in the criminal organization.
Rearrangements
Following the capture of one of the top leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, the structure will have a rearrangement in the line of management, which will not be easy, according to
The director of the PNC, David Custodio Boteo, believes that the capture of Zambada will cause rearrangements and improvised leadership, which will lead to internal problems.
“It is considered that these rearrangements and improvised leaderships that may arise would cause internal problems. And this type of violence has worsened in Chiapas and border areas of that country and is already causing the emigration of people seeking asylum,” he said.
Similarly, the former Vice Minister of the Interior, Mario Mérida, maintains that although the war will be within the Sinaloa cartel,or rules out an increase in violence on the border with Guatemala.
“Conflicts of this nature will be more focused on Mexico and there will be settling of scores between them, especially if it is true that there was a betrayal by other members of the structure and more than one will want to take the lead. This will undoubtedly generate violence and further migration to Guatemala is not ruled out,” he explained.Have.
He recalled that when Chapo Guzmán’s son was captured, it is not known what information he could have given and that would also be considered a betrayal.
They suggest reciprocity
According to the testimonies of those affected, on July 19, armed groups clashed in a community in Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, and the next day, armed individuals entered the homes and evicted families from the communities without giving them the opportunity to take their belongings. so they took refuge in Guatemalan territory.
Rosario Martínez, a researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO), says that when Mexican families enter Guatemala to escape violence, there must be a “reciprocity” between the government and the neighboring country, as there was during the internal armed conflict, when hundreds of families sought refuge in Mexican territory.
“Right now we are in limbo, but families must apply for humanitarian shelter or temporary asylum while the options are being defined because many of them could return to Mexico,” he said.
He added that in these cases, there are families who refuse to leave their homes and escape from armed groups. However, They are forced to work for drug traffickers and, in the case of women, they must cook and care for the members of these structures.
“What is known is that women also suffer from sexual abuse,” says Martínez.
More presence
Guatemalan police authorities indicated that they maintain a presence with 47 agents in the shelters located in the hamlets of Nueva Reforma Extension, Monte Rico and Union Frontera, in Aldea la Laguna, Cuilco, Huehuetenango. In total, 668 agents are permanently in Huehuetenango to prevent armed groups from entering through that department.
It was also reported that the PNC provided support to José Francisco and José Manuel Armando, both representatives of the Mexican consulate located in Tecún Umán, San Marcos, who verified a new shelter in Jocotitlán, Las Pilas, Cuilco.
“May” declares
Last Friday, “El Mayo” Zambada pleaded not guilty to all charges, including drug trafficking, money laundering and conspiracy to commit murder, according to a document submitted by his lawyer to a court in El Paso.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden boasted in a statement that he had dealt a severe blow to the Sinaloa cartel, “one of the deadliest companies in the world.”
In his press conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador asked Washington for “a complete report” by stating that Mexico did not participate in the operation and “there must be transparency.”
He also clarified that there is no “distrust” towards the operation of the US authorities to capture Zambada, but recalled that he has always “asked for respect.”
Activities in the city of Culiacán, capital of Sinaloa, were calm until yesterday Saturday, although the Ministry of Defense sent the aforementioned 200 special forces troops from the army.
“We will be alert, that is the idea, to have enough people who can react to any situation that causes insecurity,” Porfirio Fuentes, the military chief of the area, told reporters. He did not rule out a “dispute” between the three factions that make up the cartel to take control.
#impact #Guatemala #capture #Ismael #Mayo #Zambada