Alleged Mexican kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada has pleaded not guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges, according to court records released on Friday. Zambada, alongside Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of notorious drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, was arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas.

Court documents indicate that Zambada waived his right to a personal court appearance and directed that a not guilty plea be entered on his behalf. He has been ordered detained without bond and is scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Berton next Wednesday. His lawyer has not yet commented on the case.
Zambada and Guzman Lopez face multiple charges in the U.S. related to funneling substantial quantities of fentanyl and other drugs onto American streets. Their arrests mark a significant victory for U.S. law enforcement and could potentially disrupt the Mexican drug trade.
While the U.S. government informed Mexico of the detentions, Mexican authorities did not participate in the operation. Mexican Security Minister Rosa Rodriguez confirmed on Friday that the Mexican government was not involved in the arrests and it remains unclear if Zambada and Guzman Lopez surrendered voluntarily.
“The Mexican government did not participate in this detention or surrender,” Rodriguez stated during a press conference.
Zambada, believed to be in his 70s, and Guzman Lopez, in his 30s, were detained after landing in a private plane in the El Paso area. Zambada co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel with El Chapo, who was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and is currently serving a life sentence in a maximum-security prison.
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