The capture of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada García, a senior member of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, has long been touted as a major success story for bilateral co-operation between Mexico and the US. However, new evidence suggests that American involvement may have gone far beyond mere co-ordination, sparking an official investigation in Mexico City into alleged FBI participation.
The operation in question took place on 15 July 2024, when Zambada García was lured onto a small plane by fellow trafficker Joaquín Guzmán López and flown into Texas, where he was arrested along with his accomplice at El Paso International Airport. Mexico has repeatedly questioned the US about its role in the operation, but officials have consistently maintained that no American agents were involved.
Yet a plaque displayed alongside the plane used in the arrest – now housed at the War Eagles Air Museum in Santa Teresa, New Mexico – appears to contradict these claims. Inscribed on the plaque are the words: 'Two FBI agents successfully executed a highly complex, secretive and daring arrest of two of the world's most wanted fugitives.'
The investigation into US involvement has raised concerns about the presence of American operatives in Mexico, particularly given President Donald Trump's recent threats to launch a ground invasion of the country to tackle drug cartels. According to Mexican Attorney General Ernestina Godoy, if confirmed, 'all signs point to three serious issues: a series of violations of Mexican and international law; a pact made outside the bounds of the law; and a lie told by a US diplomat, which would constitute a breach of the cornerstone principle of good faith in diplomatic relations.'
As tensions between Mexico and the US continue to escalate, British policymakers are watching developments with growing concern. With significant trade links and security co-operation between London and Washington, any erosion of trust between the two nations could have far-reaching implications for the UK's own global security and economic interests.