Ken Salazar, former United States ambassador to Mexico, insists that the kidnapping of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, was not an operation led by the government of President Joe Biden.

On July 25, 2024, the world was shocked when the arrest of the dangerous capo in El Paso, Texas was announced, something extremely strange to assimilate since the man born in Alano, Sonora, has been interned in the mountains for years, operating remotely to stay away from the authorities.

Subsequently, information emerged indicating that he had been kidnapped by his godson Joaquín Guzmán López, scion of drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, who tricked him into meeting him without imagining that he would be put on a plane bound for the United States where he is judged for his criminal record of producing and distributing drugs with a final destination in the United States.

The controversial point of the arrest is that it involves US agents allegedly operating from Mexico, which would be illegal.

However, in the United States, the authorities responsible for detaining “El Mayo” Zambada deny any involvement in his arrest.

About to mark one year since the arrest of the Mexican boss, during a conference held at the National Palace, Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico, demanded to reveal how the veteran criminal's arrest was carried out and, from that, determine if the agents in charge of him were operating illegally.

"Who lied? It is very relevant. As President López Obrador said at the time, and we agree, it has to be clarified for the good of Mexico and the bilateral relationship.

Who lies? Who lied? “Did Ambassador Ken Salazar lie?” questioned the president.

Although Ken Salazar had already assured that no US resources were used, through a publication on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, the diplomat reinforced his version.

"President Claudia Sheinbaum has raised a question: who told the truth? Let me answer it clearly:

Attorney General Merrick Garland and I informed the Mexican government, both in our public statements and directly to the Mexican government, on July 25 and 26, 2024, of the arrests of Ismael Zambada García and Joaquín Guzmán.

We informed the Mexican government that it was not our plane, nor our pilot, nor our operation.

The truth is the truth,” says part of the text.

The 71-year-old former ambassador stressed that, in his soon-to-be-published memoirs, he explains the controversial incident in detail.

“I talk about this episode in my book, ‘Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America,’ in a chapter titled ‘The Door Closes.’

'Borderlands' is about the urgency of creating a New North American Alliance that addresses North America's economic, security and climate challenges. It is a message that I hope will be received by the citizens of the United States, Mexico and Canada,” he said.