Arrested Mexican drug lord 'El Mayo' pleads not guilty to US drug charges
File photo.
Mexican drug lordIsmael "El Mayo" Zambada, the co-founder of the notorious Sinaloa cartel, on Friday pleaded not guilty to US drug charges after he and former leader El Chapo's sonwere arrested in Texas.
Citing court records, a report by the news agency Reuters on Saturday said thatZambada directed that a not-guilty plea be entered on his behalf, which was accepted by USMagistrate Judge Anne Berton.
At an initial court appearance in a Texas courtroom, Zambada- seen in a wheelchair-was read his rights and charges, according to a transcript. He waived his right to be present at an arraignment on July 31.
The accusations against Zambada
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Zambada, who is in his 70s, has been accused of beingone of the most consequential traffickers in Mexico's history, having co-founded theSinaloaCartel with El Chapo- who is currently in jail.
On Friday, US authorities arrested Zambada and Chapo's sonJoaquin Guzman Lopez after they both landed in a private aircraftin the El Paso area.
Zambada and Joaquin facemultiple charges in the USfor allegedly funnelling huge quantities of fentanyl and other drugs to American streets. An official told Reuters that Joaquin wasdue to appear in court in Chicago next week.
Joe Biden hails arrests
US President Joe Biden hailed Friday's arrestsand vowed to continue combating drug trafficking.
Also watch |Migrants from Southern Mexico hope to reach US before November
In a statement, President Biden said, "Too many of our citizens have lost their lives to the scourge of fentanyl. Too many families have been broken and are suffering because of this destructive drug."
Joaquin lured Zambada to US
Citing officials, Reuters reported thatGuzman Lopez lured Zambada to the US."My client did not come to the USvoluntarily," Zambada's lawyer told the news agency.
Zambada and El Chapo's sons have had a fractious relationship since their father was extradited in 2017, and the arrests of Zambada and Joaquin may trigger instability or even violence in their heartlands in the northern state ofSinaloa.
(With inputs from agencies)