By Jesus Garcia
30 Jul 2024, 16:58 PM EDT
The secret of how Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada was captured In El Paso, Texas, it applied not only to the Mexican government, but also to senior officials in the United States.
This was confirmed by two sources from President Joe Biden’s administration with knowledge of operations against organized crime, arguing that the secrecy was in place to avoid any leaks about the operation led by the DEA and other agencies.
There was no clarity on how much the information was kept secret, but at least in Mexico, the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his close team found out shortly after the operation in El Paso, Texas, was carried out.
In this operation Joaquin Guzman Lopez was also arrestedson of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who on Tuesday pleaded “not guilty” to drug trafficking charges in Chicago, Illinois.
The DEA and the Department of Justice were officially questioned about the operation in Mexico and the secrecy of senior Mexican officials, including President López Obrador and the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguez.
The DEA referred questions to the Justice Department, where the International Law Enforcement division declined to comment.
“The Justice Department declines to comment”was answered via email.
The sources also did not specify whether “El Mayo” Zambada turned himself in to the U.S. authorities or whether there was a coordinated operation with “El Chapo’s” sons, known as “Los Chapitos,” as has been reported in Mexican and U.S. media.
The next hearing of “El Mayo”
On August 1, “El Mayo” Zambada will have a new hearing, the first on the status of his case before Judge Kathleen Cardone.
Although a hearing was scheduled for July 31, it will not be held before Judge Anne Berton, since previously “El Mayo” Zambada signed a document to waive the public reading of chargesalthough they were read to him and he declared himself “not guilty.”
In another document signed by the alleged drug trafficker’s lawyer, Frank Pérez, “El Mayo” Zambada also waived his hearing to request bail, which would have allowed him to advance his process in freedom if the judge had accepted the offer.
“I have also been informed of my right to a bail hearing, the judge will receive evidence to determine whether I will remain detained without bail or have bail set,” reads the document in English and Spanish signed July 26. “I have been informed that if I waive my right to a bail hearing, I will remain detained without bail until my trial. I waive (give up) my right to a bail hearing“.
At the hearing on Thursday, August 1, prosecutors will present part of the evidence against “El Mayo” and a date will be proposed for the following hearings for a possible trial.
“El Mayo” also has until September 11 to change his statement, which would modify the judicial process against him.