El Chapo & The United States Reportedly Orchestrated the Kidnapping of "El Mayo" Zambada to Save Los Chapitos

The capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada García has thrown the Mexican state of Sinaloa in disarray, and created a deep wrinkle in Mexico's diplomatic and security relations with the United States. However, a new report from a very credible source is saying that it was Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán himself who helped the DEA catch his former ally.

A new report by journalist Luis Chaparro for Proceso magazine alleges that the imprisoned Mexican drug lord orchestrated El Mayo's capture with the intent of securing a deal with U.S. authorities to benefit his sons, Ovidio, alias 'El Ratón' and Joaquín Guzmán López.

According to Chaparro, El Chapo issued the order from his prison cell at Colorado's Supermax, directing his son Joaquín to ambush El Mayo, who was not only his father's long-time associate but also his godfather. El Chapo reportedly saw this high-stakes move as a way to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Justice and federal agencies to reduce the prison sentence for his sons.

In particular, El Chapo sought to exchange the capture of El Mayo for the potential release of El Ratón.

The plan, as detailed by Chaparro, hinged on using the surrender of Joaquín, also known as 'El Guero' or 'El Chapito,' as leverage with U.S. authorities. However, El Chapo knew this offer might not be enough to ensure his sons' freedom, says Chaparro. For the strategy to work, a high-profile individual was needed to catch the attention of U.S. officials—someone with significant criminal influence and a large bounty on their head.

El Mayo, who has evaded capture for decades and had a $15 million bounty offered by the U.S. State Department, fits this profile. By handing over El Mayo, El Chapo aimed to negotiate reduced sentences or other benefits for both of his sons.

The operation was reportedly carried out by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with El Chapo's directives passed through a letter to his son Joaquín. This letter, allegedly sent via his attorneys about a year ago, outlined the entire plan: establish contact with U.S. agencies, arrange a surrender, and betray El Mayo to secure Ovidio's freedom.

The letter's contents have been confirmed by federal sources as well as individuals close to the Zambada family, Chaparro reported. "You already know who the targets are. You know what needs to be done," read a portion of the letter, as published by Proceso.

In an interview with journalist Carmen Aristegui, Chaparro shared that he had corroborated the U.S. government's involvement in El Mayo's capture with both current and former officials. Chaparro claimed that on July 25, El Chapo and his son decided to implement the plan. The U.S. was reportedly involved in coordinating the operation, providing logistical support through HSI, which included an aircraft and necessary clearances to facilitate the capture without complications.

While the exact outcomes of these alleged negotiations remain unknown, the report indicates that HSI oversaw the operation, managing instructions and ensuring it proceeded as planned. The specifics of any potential deals involving El Chapo, El Chapito, or other federal agencies have not been disclosed at this time.