Sinaloa Cartel โฃLeader’s Plea Sparks Political Scrutinyโ in โฃMexico
The guilty plea โof Jesรบs โ”Elโ Mayo” Zambada,a high-ranking leader of theโค Sinaloa Cartel,is sending โripples through mexican politics,reviving oldโ allegations of campaign funding from illicit sources and raisingโ new questions about a โฃrecentโ kidnapping and alleged cover-up. Zambada, facing a life sentence and $15 billion in asset โforfeiture, admitted responsibility for the violenceโ caused by the cartel and offered an โคapology to those affected by his actions.
Zambada’s cooperation with U.S. โauthorities is expected to โขfocus on identifying corrupt officials who aidedโ the cartel, including within the military and police forces.This prospectโฃ has reportedly caused anxiety among Mexico’s โขpolitical elite. The โtiming of his plea coincides โwith heightened tensions surrounding the alleged kidnapping of Zambada by associates โขof Joaquรญn “El Chapo” Guzmรกn’s son, โand the subsequent arrest of “Elโ Mayo” himself.
The case hasโข also brought renewed attention to claims that Zambada provided financial support toโฃ President Andrรฉs Manuel Lรณpez Obrador’s 2006 presidential campaign. Rey, a witness in previous trials, recalled โpaying Zambada moneyโค that was reportedly intended for the campaign. While โprevious โlegal proceedings were limited by judicial orders and failed to definitively prove the connection, the current climate of โscrutiny isโ fueling speculation. Lรณpez โขObrador, โnow of the Morena party, previouslyโ championedโ a “hugs not bullets” approachโ to combating organized crime.
Further complicating matters is the death of Hรฉctor Melesio Cuรฉn, a former mayor of Culiacรกn, who was found shot to death on the day of Zambada’s โarrest.Zambada had โclaimed heโข was invited to a meeting intended to mediate a dispute between Cuรฉn andโข Rubรฉn Rocha Moya, the current Governor of Sinaloa, bothโข of whom are members ofโ the Morenaโ party. Rocha Moyaโข denies any involvement โin a kidnapping plot, citing flight records showing he was on a family trip to los Angeles at the โtime.
Mexican federal authorities have raised concerns about the investigation into Cuรฉn’s death, specifically citing the unusual and rapid cremationโค of his body. This has addedโค to suspicions of a โฃpotential cover-up.โข
Guillermo Valdes Castellanos, a โformer head of โฃMexico’s national intelligence agency, believes Zambada’s plea will compel U.S. authorities to aggressivelyโค pursue information about politicians who โprotected theโ cartel leader.
Since Zambada’s โคarrest, Sinaloa has experienced increased violence due to clashes between a factionโ led by his son, Mayito Flaco, and Los chapitos. Following the courtโ hearingโ in brooklyn, Zambada’s lawyer issued a plea for calm in Sinaloa,โ urging residents to avoid violence and work towards peace and stability.