The case of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is once again in the public spotlight following the release of a set of previously unseen photographs related to his arrival in the United States in July 2024. The images, released nearly two years after those events, offer a different perspective on the flight that ended with the capture of the long-time leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.
The material was presented by a journalist on his YouTube news channel, who claimed that the information comes from sources with access to the FBI. The images include both the aircraft used for the transport and the operation carried out after the landing in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
Mayo Zambada and the findings inside the aircraft
The photographs show the condition of the cabin after the flight. The seats show visible damage, and several surfaces display signs consistent with a struggle. There are also damaged windows and torn seatbacks.
See also: Rubén Rocha Moya, alleged ‘narco-politician’, takes leave as governor of Sinaloa
Another notable detail involves various items found inside the aircraft. These include bags from a convenience store containing food scraps, beverages, and personal items. In addition, the plane had undergone technical modifications, as some serial numbers had been removed and the navigation system was operated via a specific sequence of switches.
The images also show the moments following the landing. According to reports, Ismael Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López exited the plane without handcuffs and were arrested on the tarmac by U.S. federal agents who were waiting for the aircraft’s arrival.
The versions that continue to shape the case
The manner in which Zambada arrived in the United States remains a point of contention among the parties involved. Since 2024, the Mexican government has maintained that the transfer was the result of a kidnapping orchestrated by Joaquín Guzmán López and has reiterated that no Mexican authority participated in the operation. This position has been endorsed by both former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The drug lord’s defense team offers a similar explanation for the origin of the trip. Attorney Frank Pérez claims that his client attended a meeting in Culiacán, where he was overpowered by an armed group before being forced to board a plane bound for the United States.
Although the photographs do not answer all the questions surrounding this episode, they do add new visual evidence to an investigation that continues to spark interest on both sides of the border.
