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One of the most nefarious figures in Mexico is now being detained in the United States. The Sinaloa Cartel leader says he was taken against his will.
As reported by Raw Story, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a reported high-ranking shotcaller for the crime syndicate was brought to U.S. soil last week. Since then, there has been much speculation about his extradition involving rumors he is cooperating with the government and that he turned himself in.
But he is denying those allegations via his lawyer. “I did not turn myself in, and I did not come voluntarily to the United States,” read the statement. “Nor did I have any agreement with either government. To the contrary, I was kidnapped and brought to the U.S. forcibly and against my will.”
Zambada would go on to allude to the reports that El Chapo’s son, Joaquín Guzmán, was also present at the sting. Guzmán apparently asked Zambada to follow him into a dark room to which he obliged.
“Trusting the nature of the meeting and the people involved, I followed without hesitation,” Ismeal says. “As soon as I set foot inside of that room, I was ambushed. A group of men assaulted me, knocked me to the ground, and placed a dark-colored hood over my head.” He then says he was handcuffed and placed in an unidentified vehicle.
Later in the statement, he went on to double down that he is not working with the United States government.
“The notion that I surrendered or cooperated voluntarily is completely and unequivocally false. I was brought to this country forcibly and under duress, without my consent and against my will.”
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is expected to be transferred from Texas to New York this week. Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is currently serving a life sentence for drug trafficking. The Sinaloa Cartel is said to be one of the most powerful and violent criminal operations in the world.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Mike Coppola / Getty
Peso Pluma needs to move tactfully whenever he’s in his hometown. He recently had to cancel a concert in Tijuana due to death threats from cartels.
Vulture is reporting that the Mexican singer songwriter is facing some safety concerns. He was supposed to perform at Caliente Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 14), but is no longer taking the stage at the multi-use facility in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. On Wednesday (Sept. 20), his record label Double P Records took to its Instagram Stories to make the announcement. “Our goal is to protect the fans and our team. For the safety of everyone involved we will cancel our show in Tijuana” the post read. “Thank you very much to all of our fans for understanding. We love you. Sincerely: La Doble P.”
In the past, Peso Pluma has referenced or directly named Sinaloa cartel kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera throughout his music. Local news site Punto Norte reports that Mexican police found three banners with messages for Peso Pluma written in Spanish. “Refrain from appearing this October 14. Because it will be your last presentation,” one of the banners read. All the messages were signed Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación, or Jalisco New Generation Cartel; the direct rivals of the Sinaloa cartel.
This is not the first time a Peso Pluma concert had to be canceled in Mexico. Back in February, a show with Eden Muñoz, Roberto Tapia and El Fantasma was nixed by the promoter due to “insecurity and threats towards other events.”
Currently, Peso Pluma is on the American portion of his 2023 tour.
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Rudy Acosta III, a former Chicago drug boss and record label chief, helped the authorities take down several key figures in a massive drug case. Because of his federal cooperation, Rudy Acosta III, known on the streets as King Rudy is essentially a free man after being given a yearlong prison sentence that will see him go free after time served.
Rudy Acosta III and his case were profiled by the Chicago Sun-Times, highlighting that Acosta was once the focus of a DEA investigation for moving large amounts of cocaine through the Chicago area via a connection with a Mexican cartel.
Acosta appeared at the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse this past Tuesday (September 19) with Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Erskine speaking on his behalf and noting that Acosta was “one of the most prolific and successful cooperators with our office.”
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman handed down a sentence to Acosta of a year and one day, which would be wiped away due to time already served. The judge also told Acosta that he may be relocated to a halfway house.
Some might recall Acosta’s King Rudy nickname from his time in establishing The Legion recording label, which found its footing in the mid-2000s.
Acosta’s cooperation led to 36 people being slapped with drug and public corruption charges. One of the most notable names was the late Illinois Sen. Martin Sandoval, who died in December 2020 after pleading guilty to corruption.
Acosta entered into a plea agreement, admitting to the fact that he distributed drugs across the city of Chicago while stating that he worked alongside drug suppliers out of Mexico. Over seven years, Acosta provided investigators with inside information to take down the three dozen individuals in the case.
DEA Special Agent Tom Asselborn spoke on behalf of Rudy Acosta III, saying that the former drug lord is completely rehabilitated and that he’s turned his life around.
Read the full breakdown here.
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Source: STR / Getty
The backstory behind the recent kidnapping in Mexico continues to get stranger by the day. Officials have received a letter stating the cartel has turned over the men responsible for the crime.
As per the Associated Press local officials of the city of Matamoros, Mexico received a letter that is said to be sent by the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel. In the message, the criminal organization shows they do have a heart and offer their remorse to locals over the fact that an innocent bystander was killed in the operation. Additionally, the individuals who penned it say they handed over the gunmen.
“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline,” the letter read. Additionally, the not-for-profit news agency implies the note also included photos of the five men who orchestrated the brazen kidnapping of four Americans last week.
Since the incident, the United States has deployed the National Guard to patrol the border. Mexican security analyst David Saucedo says the extra presence has made it difficult for criminal organizations to run shop.
“It is very difficult right now for them to continue working in terms of street-level drug sales and transferring drugs to the United States; they are the first ones interested in closing this chapter as soon as possible,” Saucedo said. The two survivors from the kidnapping are currently recuperating at Texas based medical facilities.
Photo: STR / Getty
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