The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, commented during her morning press conference on the repatriation request made by Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel. Zambada, detained in the United States in July 2024, demands to be defended by the Mexican Government due to irregularities in his extradition process.
In the request submitted at the Mexican Consulate General in New York, Zambada mentions that his detention was a result of an alleged deception by Joaquín Guzmán López. In it, he asks for the intervention of the Mexican Government to prevent a collapse in the bilateral relationship between both countries. The charges he faces include organized crime, homicide, large-scale drug trafficking, and money laundering.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the review of Zambada's request is a right of any Mexican citizen and does not imply the defense of the individual itself, but rather the manner in which his detention was carried out by U.S. authorities. The president stated that it is important to consider issues of sovereignty and judgment in this particular case.
These events occur in a context where six Mexican drug trafficking cartels, including Sinaloa and CJNG, have been officially designated as terrorist groups. Violence in Culiacán, Sinaloa, has intensified since September 2024 due to clashes between criminal cells following the detention of 'El Mayo' Zambada.
Sheinbaum's stance on Zambada's repatriation demand highlights the importance of ensuring the rights of Mexican citizens involved in judicial processes abroad. The review of this case could have significant implications for the relationship between Mexico and the United States, especially on issues of sovereignty and justice.
