Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, who was arrested by U.S. authorities in July 2024, has sent a letter to the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, requesting his extradition. In the letter, Zambada claimed that failing to address his request would lead to a serious deterioration in the relationship between Mexico and the United States.
The drug trafficker's message was presented by his defense at the Mexican Consulate General in New York and later published by the newspaper Reforma. In the letter, Zambada urged the Mexican government to intervene on his behalf and demand guarantees that he would not face the death penalty in the United States.
Zambada, who faces charges of organized crime, homicide, drug trafficking, and money laundering, argued that his handover to U.S. authorities was "irregular and illegal." Therefore, he believes that the Mexican government has the responsibility to ensure that his fundamental rights are respected.
In his statement, 'El Mayo' Zambada expressed his concern about the possible consequences of not being repatriated to Mexico, stating that it would set a dangerous precedent in bilateral relations and open the door to future detentions of Mexican citizens without respecting the country's sovereignty. He emphasized that the Mexican government can demand his return by alleging irregularities in his transfer to U.S. authorities.
For her part, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated at a press conference that they will review Zambada's case and reiterated the importance of safeguarding the rights of Mexican citizens in international legal processes.
