López Obrador and his security cabinet remain perplexed about recent events. They have only concluded that it was, without a doubt, a significant diplomatic insult from the Biden administration—the worst incident recorded in bilateral relations.
According to political analysts, as of the weekend, U.S. authorities had not even answered calls from López Obrador’s government, leaving Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena unable to formulate the response to the affront requested by the President, noting, “there is no way they can save face.”
On Friday, the day following the arrest of “El Mayo” along with one of “El Chapo” Guzmán’s sons, Joaquín Guzmán López, the Obrador government stated they were notified through the embassy. However, sources indicate that officials at Palacio Nacional learned about it through media reports.
Analysts assert that Zambada’s capture is just the beginning; the U.S. managed not only to apprehend “the world’s foremost drug lord” but also to hold López Obrador accountable for four years of disdain and lack of cooperation.
U.S. VIOLATES NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, WHILE AMLO REMAINS SILENT
As revealed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, operations to extract Zambada began a year and a half ago and were conducted in secrecy.
The operation has been flagged as a breach of national sovereignty, yet the López Obrador administration has remained silent about the actions taken by U.S. authorities in Mexico.
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Reports indicate that the capture was led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in coordination with multiple intelligence agencies, likely including the FBI, CIA, and the National Security Agency.
“The irony lies in the fact that while the DEA did not participate in the extraction, they technically did not mislead the Mexican government. The operation was directed by the Investigations Division of the Department of Homeland Security, working alongside the FBI,” sources detail.
It is emphasized that the operation serves as a mockery since the DEA, via the FBI, circumvented laws imposed by López Obrador following the arrest of former Defense Secretary Salvador Cienfuegos in 2020.
Agents from the DEA require visas to operate in Mexico, an ongoing point of contention as both countries have disputed over delays in granting credentials.
Furthermore, the DEA is mandated to provide the Mexican government with monthly reports that are crucial for maintaining national security.
According to analysts, the FBI, which has legal authority to operate in Mexico for intelligence tasks, was used to manage legal aspects of the capture, possibly to devise plausible escape routes should accusations arise regarding U.S. interference in Mexican territory.
Initial reports suggested that “El Mayo” Zambada had surrendered or was misled by “El Chapo”’s son, but new statements from Frank Pérez, Zambada’s attorney, “place the Mexican government in an even worse position,” claiming his client was kidnapped on Mexican soil.
Pérez noted that his client was abducted by a squad of six individuals in military uniforms, bound and blindfolded, and forcibly loaded onto a plane.
The analyst adds that if confirmed, the military uniforms may not belong exclusively to army units, as the FBI and CIA also utilize tactical gear resembling military uniforms during special operations.
Experts suggest that López Obrador’s government could leverage the attorney’s claims to break through its current paralysis, potentially “regaining some dignity” by vocally protesting the secretive, illegal operation that violated bilateral agreements and Mexican laws.
