Reports, court documents, and public statements have indicated that Zambada was allegedly deceived by Joaquín Guzmán López, one of the sons of imprisoned cartel kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Rather than being tracked down through a traditional multinational operation, Zambada reportedly boarded a plane under false pretenses before ending up in the custody of U.S. authorities.
According to information that has surfaced through legal proceedings, Guzmán López was attempting to secure favorable treatment for himself by delivering one of the most influential figures in cartel history.
Supporters of President Donald Trump argue that this distinction matters. They contend that the incident was not the result of a failed Biden administration strategy but rather an internal betrayal among leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.
As questions continue to swirl around the origins of the cartel war, attention has also focused on allegations involving Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya.
Federal allegations and reports have connected Rocha Moya and several associates to accusations involving cartel influence and corruption. The claims have become a major source of political controversy because Rocha Moya is a member of Morena, the ruling political movement associated with Sheinbaum and former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
While the governor has denied wrongdoing, critics say the Mexican government has shown little interest in aggressively addressing the allegations.
Instead, opponents accuse Sheinbaum of directing public attention toward Washington while avoiding difficult questions about political corruption inside Mexico.
The issue has become especially significant as the Trump administration continues to place increasing pressure on Mexico to confront cartel operations more aggressively.
Trump has repeatedly argued that cartel organizations represent a direct threat not only to Mexico but also to the United States. His administration has emphasized stronger border enforcement, expanded cooperation between law-enforcement agencies, and tougher measures against criminal organizations responsible for trafficking narcotics across the border.
For that reason, Sheinbaum’s attempt to tie the violence to Biden’s handling of the Zambada case has been met with skepticism among many conservatives.
Critics note that the cartel conflict erupted after a major power shift inside the criminal organization itself. Rival factions began battling for influence, territory, and control following the dramatic removal of one of the cartel’s most powerful leaders.
From that perspective, the violence appears to be the consequence of a criminal organization turning against itself rather than the result of a specific White House decision.
The controversy has also revived broader concerns about the relationship between political leaders and organized crime in certain regions of Mexico.
Questions surrounding local officials, cartel influence in elections, and allegations of corruption have lingered for years. Those concerns have only intensified as federal investigations and legal filings continue to emerge.
At the same time, Sheinbaum has pointed to successful security operations carried out under her government as evidence that Mexico can combat organized crime without increased American involvement.
Her administration has highlighted actions taken against major criminal figures and has repeatedly emphasized Mexico’s sovereignty when discussing security matters.
However, critics argue that those successes make it harder to justify blaming Washington for cartel violence that stems from conflicts within Mexico’s own criminal networks.
As the political battle continues, the debate is no longer just about who captured El Mayo Zambada. It has become a larger fight over accountability, corruption, and whether Mexico’s leadership is willing to confront allegations involving powerful political allies.
For conservatives watching the situation unfold, the central question remains simple: if cartel violence is being fueled by corruption and criminal alliances inside Mexico, why is so much energy being spent blaming an American administration that is no longer in power?
That question is likely to remain at the center of the discussion as U.S. and Mexican officials continue to clash over border security, cartel activity, and responsibility for one of the most violent criminal conflicts in North America.
