El Mayo's Attorney Claims Mexican Drug Lord Was 'Forcibly Kidnapped,' Flown To US For Detention

Mexican drug lord El Mayo's attorney Frank Perez claimed Sunday that his client was "forcibly kidnapped" and taken on a plane to the United States, where he was arrested.

Cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada García and the son of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel boss known as "El Chapo," Joaquín Guzmán López, were arrested on July 25.

Following the arrest of the two suspected Sinaloa Cartel leaders in Texas, three law enforcement officials said one of the men may have tricked the other into flying to the U.S.

However, Perez said, "My client neither surrendered nor negotiated any terms with the U.S. government," NBC News reported. "Joaquin Guzmán López forcibly kidnapped my client. He was ambushed, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed by six men in military uniforms and Joaquin."

"His legs were tied, and a black bag was placed over his head. He was then thrown into the back of a pickup truck and taken to a landing strip. There, he was forced onto a plane, his legs tied to the seat by Joaquin, and brought to the U.S. against his will. The only people on the plane were the pilot, Joaquin and my client."

After the arrest last week, United States Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement, pointing out that both men had been previously indicted in the U.S.

"Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartel's criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks," Garland mentioned, as per the official Justice website.

García has been flown to Chicago by authorities and López has been kept in El Paso, where he will be facing trial in federal court on Aug. 2.

According to multiple sources, López planned to surrender and thought he would get better treatment by bringing another major cartel boss with him. Homeland Security Investigations said the arrests were due to a joint effort by HSI and the FBI to target the cartel.

López's father, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, was arrested in Mexico in 2017 and was sentenced to life plus 30 years in prison in 2019.