World Courant
HOUSTON — The lawyer of a highly effective chief of Mexican drug cartel who’s now in U.S. custody, was defeated on Sunday in a court docket case that his consumer was tricked into flying to the nation, saying he was “forcibly kidnapped” by the son of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada had eluded authorities for many years and had by no means set foot in jail till a airplane carrying him and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of infamous drug lord “El Chapo,” landed Thursday at an airport in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, close to El Paso, Texas. Each males, who face a number of U.S. drug fees, have been arrested and are nonetheless in jail.
Frank Perez, Zambada’s lawyer, stated his consumer didn’t arrive on the New Mexico airport of his personal free will.
“My consumer didn’t give up, nor did he negotiate phrases with the U.S. authorities,” Perez stated in an announcement. “Joaquín Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my consumer. He was ambushed, thrown to the bottom and handcuffed by six males in navy uniforms and Joaquin. His legs have been tied and a black bag was positioned over his head.” Perez stated Zambada, 76, was thrown into the mattress of a pickup truck, pressured onto a airplane and tied to a seat by Guzmán López.
Referred to as a shrewd operator adept at bribing officers, Zambada has a fame for negotiating with anybody, together with rivals. He’s accused in some American circumstancestogether with in New York and California. Prosecutors filed a brand new indictment towards him in New York in February, describing him because the “principal chief of the legal enterprise liable for importing large portions of narcotics into the US.”
Eradicating him from the legal circuit might unleash a turbulent inner wrestle for management of the cartel, as occurred with the arrest or homicide of different criminals. Consultants say it might additionally open the door for a extra violent, youthful era of traffickers from Sinaloa to emerge.
Perez declined to remark past his assertion on Sunday, saying solely that his consumer was touring with a lightweight safety unit and was trapped after being summoned to a gathering with Guzmán López.
Perez’s feedback have been first reported by the Los Angeles Occasions.
A U.S. Justice Division spokesman didn’t instantly reply Sunday to an e mail in search of touch upon Perez’s claims. Court docket data didn’t record an lawyer for Guzmán López, whose father is serving a life sentence in a U.S. jail.
In line with a US legislation enforcement official aware of the matter, Zambada was tricked into flying to the US
The cartel chief boarded a airplane considering he was going elsewhere, stated the official, who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to debate the matter. The official didn’t present particulars, equivalent to who persuaded Zambada to board the airplane or the place precisely he thought he was going.
Zambada appeared in federal court docket in El Paso Friday morning, the place a choose learn the costs towards him and knowledgeable him of his rights. He’s being held with out bail and has pleaded not responsible to a number of drug trafficking fees, court docket data present. His subsequent court docket look is scheduled for Thursday, Perez stated.
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