Mayo Zambada testifies in a wheelchair in his first appearance in the United States

in a brief audience and in which Ishmael May Zambada limited himself to answering only “yes” or “no” this Friday morning during the first appearance of the Mexican drug trafficker before the US authorities in a court in El Paso, Texas. In a wheelchair and with an interpreter provided by the court, Zambada heard his rights and the crimes for which he was arrested this Thursday morning at a private airport in that border city, accompanied by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of El Chapo Guzmán.

The 76-year-old veteran capo, Ismael Mario Zambada Garcia, attended this hearing in a wheelchair, as recorded in the transcript of the appearance. In it, Judge Anne T. Burton, in the first minutes of the meeting, ensures that Zambada has the adequate conditions and tools to understand what is about to happen: “We will need Mr. Zambada next to the microphone. If you can move it, Marshalls, and lower the microphone… can you move it to the side and lower the microphone? If necessary, we can put the wheelchair next to the podium,” the judge indicated, according to the transcript, which eventually places Zambada in front of the microphone, and moments later she begins the meeting by asking:

—Are you Ismael Zambada Garcia?

– Yes.

—Can you please move the microphone closer to him? Thank you.

– Yes it’s me.

Burton provided an explanation of the rights of the Mexican drug lord, including “formal notification to the authorities of that country of his capture” and the information and actions attributed to him. “At this hearing I will inform you of your rights, the charges against you, information about your attorney, the time and date of your next hearing, and your status regarding bail,” he explained.

The judge has confirmed the formal accusation made by the United States government for the crimes of conspiracy to lead the operation of a company involving activity related to organized crime; activities that sought the distribution of controlled substances with marijuana or cocaine in shipments of one thousand kilograms or more; possession of firearms for the purposes of drug trafficking; murder and drug trafficking.

US authorities have wanted El Mayo for decades. His name has appeared in at least five extensive judicial cases opened in the country’s federal courts between 2003 and 2016. In all of them he appears to be accused of facilitating the smuggling of cocaine and marijuana into the United States and of inheriting the criminal empire after Joaquin was arrested and prosecuted. el chapo Guzman, who has been serving a life sentence at a Colorado maximum security prison since 2019.

During the first moments of this Friday’s hearing, Judge Burton paused to say that if Zambada wanted to sit down, he could do so. After thinking about it, one of his lawyers confirmed that his client preferred to remain seated. El Mayo’s health has been one of the topics about which there has been speculation in recent hours and it may have been one of the factors why the “untouchable” boss – until this Thursday – may have facilitated his arrest.

The latest reports from the DEA indicate that the veteran Zambada was in poor health. According to information from the agency, Zambada had several ailments, which called into question his leadership of the cartel chief and his criminal operations. Diabetes worsened due to lack of proper treatment – which the boss could avoid to maintain a low profile – and other problems derived from this condition, such as vision difficulties.

Judge Burton confirmed in a hearing this Friday that, at least for now, there is no possibility of setting bail in Zambada’s case. A few hours later, the Mexican drug trafficker pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to the agency Reuters

Zambada ordered that a plea of ​​not guilty be entered on his behalf, which the magistrate accepted. The defendant waived his right to appear at the arraignment next Wednesday, and next Thursday he will have to appear before District Judge Kathleen Cardone, who will oversee the rest of the case.

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