New Video Shows El Mayo Zambada's U.S. Arrival

Reporting and context

Publimetro México reports that newly released footage shows the small plane that carried Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López landing at the Santa Teresa airport in New Mexico on July 25, 2024. In the brief video, government vehicles are positioned around the runway and several people can be seen leaving the aircraft after it lands.

According to the outlet, previously published images showed federal personnel, including FBI and DEA agents, waiting for the plane. Zambada has said he was taken to the United States against his will after being lured to a meeting, beaten, tied up and placed aboard the aircraft. His defense has described the transfer as a kidnapping.

The report says the footage has renewed attention on questions surrounding the operation. Publimetro cites documents attributed to the FBI and circulated by journalist Luis Chaparro that reportedly used the name "Kings of the Air" for the operation and referred to the participation of two agents.

Publimetro also reports that the FBI later controlled the aircraft and transferred it to a New Mexico museum, where it was placed on public display. The newly circulated video adds another visual record to the accounts of the arrival.