The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, clarified that the pilot involved in the detention of drug trafficker Ismael 'el Mayo' Zambada was not a contractor for the U.S. government nor a U.S. citizen. He emphasized that there was appropriate communication regarding this, showing letters from U.S. prosecutors and the Secretary of State addressing Mexican authorities to inform about the progress of the investigation and celebrate the success of the operation.
Salazar mentioned the violence unleashed in Sinaloa following the capture of 'el Mayo', with clashes between factions of the Sinaloa cartel that have left hundreds dead. He expressed condolences for the victims and highlighted the shared responsibility between both governments in matters of security. He also praised the security strategy of President Claudia Sheinbaum and her team.
Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz mentioned that the kidnapped person in Culiacán arrived at a U.S. border city by plane. He stated that the entry of planes and people is regulated by U.S. law and both the aircraft and the pilot must be identified. He dismissed the implication of U.S. security bodies in the detention of Zambada.
Salazar expressed his surprise at the request for explanations from the Mexican Prosecutor's Office to the U.S. government regarding the capture of 'el Mayo' Zambada, considering it should be celebrated as a joint achievement. He emphasized that both nations have worked together in the last three years and regretted that this effort was not acknowledged in the current situation.
