El Chapo trial: VZN confirms DEA nexus with Sinaloa Cartel

Chivis Martinez Borderland Beat

Zambada testified; The war between his father Mayo, Chapo and the Beltran Leyva began in 2008 after the arrest of 'El Mochomo' Alfredo Beltran Leyva because his brother Arturo accused Mayo and Chapo of having handed Alfredo to the government. On April 30, 2008, Zambada said that federal police (PFP) and military agents looted offices and homes of assassins and people who worked for the Beltran Leyva, acting on the basis of information provided by Chapo and Mayo.

After being asked by the U.S. prosecution—“What does your father do for a living?”  Vincente Zambada Niebla answered, “My dad is the Sinaloa Cartel Leader.”

The topic was to be limited by the court, but what was said by the son of El Mayo, Vincente Zambada

Niebla, in my opinion, was just right, stating both his father and El Chapo met many times with the DEA. 

Zambada says Chapo, had the "indirect" connection with the US agency, the DEA.

He testified that he personally made a visit to meet with General Miranda to express his concern about the treatment that "the entire family" was receiving in raids against his mother in Culiacán. He clarified that in his meeting with the general, he did not enter the presidential residence.

Defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo asked Zambada, if his father had bribed President Zedillo, , Zambada replied that "no, my dad never told me that."

He had however issued a general statement during his first day on the stand.  He confirmed that his father and his associates bribed federal, state and municipal police, including what he says called “The "Yankees" or PGR delegates in the states as well as military and SIEDO officials.

Zambada acknowledges that his sentencing, which is scheduled for next month, is predicated on his testimony as a cooperative witness.  His sentencing and that of financial chief Guadalupe Fernandez Valencia, both had their hearings for sentencing and for Guadalupe her plea deal, postponed until after the trial.

I expect that Zambada will receive an ultra-sweet deal that will have him released in the blink of an eye.  He has already agreed to the forfeiture of one billion dollars and has been in prison since 2009 in Mexico and since 2010 in the U.S. if one factors in time served, good behavior reduction, he could shortly walk to freedom. Even if he were to receive a 15 years sentence, that would be only a little over 4 years.

It was only after I decided to plead guilty and sign a cooperation agreement with the US government that their prison conditions improved. As part of that agreement he was now testifying against his "compadre".

The defense attempted to bring Zambada to submission by using a heavy hand. Courtroom observers said it didn’t work, Zambada remained calm and articulate. Court spectators say the jury liked Zambada, even laughing along with him at some of his replies.  It is said he was a good witness. Not penetrable in his believable stance.

[Below:The prosecutors Guzmán presented this foto exhibit, where the defendant is observed dancing with an unidentified woman while toting a handgun.] 

Asked if he and his father had negotiated with the DEA since 2007, Zambada stated that "the one who had the communication with the DEA was my compadre Chapo." He recalled that his father, and Chapo.  decided to seek a meeting between the DEA and Vicente in 2009, since he wanted to get out of the cartel business with the permission of his father and Chapo, but he needed take care of the legal matters facing him in the United States. He claims that the idea, was to offer information to the DEA about "the enemies of my father and my compadre Chapo”, such as the Beltrán Leyva, the Carrillo Fuentes and the Zetas, in exchange for seeking to" fix "the legal problems he faced in the United States.

He was asked if he knew that the information provided to the DEA would be shared with the Mexican authorities, he said yes, and that it was assumed that the DEA and the government of Mexico would proceed against the "enemies" of the Sinaloa cartel with that information. He said he met with two DEA agents in Mexico City but a couple of hours after leaving that meeting, he was arrested by Mexican "special forces." 

But he was told he would meet with the DEA's regional chief and was assured that Mexican authorities would not know about it. He said he met with two DEA agents in Mexico City but a couple of hours after leaving that meeting, he was arrested by Mexican "special forces." 

He was questioned about his "more than a hundred" sessions with prosecutors and U.S. agents, with his providing information about his father.

Zambada said that as part of his agreement, he provided information about the houses and hiding places, airstrips, offices and operators of his father.

Balarezo mentioned he had revealed everything, yet Mayo remained free. "If he hasn’t been arrested is not my fault---I'm to blame for that?"... Zambada answered with a smile. He retold the story of 2012, when he was taken from his U.S. cell to an office, where he was allowed to receive a call from his father. It had been a long while since he could speak with his father El Mayo. His attorneys managed to organized the call, made on the condition that he would ask his father to surrender.

No other information is given, but we all know El Mayo is still free, most likely in the Sierras of Sinaloa. But he was told he would meet with the DEA's regional chief and was assured that Mexican authorities would not know about it.

Other trial highlights:

Mochomo

Zambada testified: The war between his father Mayo, Chapo and the Beltran Leyva began in 2008 after the arrest of 'El Mochomo' Alfredo Beltran Leyva because his brother Arturo accused Mayo and Chapo of having handed Alfredo to the government. 

On April 30, 2008, Zambada said that federal police (PFP) and military agents looted offices and homes of assassins and people who worked for the Beltran Leyva, acting on the basis of information provided by Chapo and Mayo.

He arranged for his wife and kids to be flown in the US and taken off the OFAC list. His w

Today VZN named other sicarios; M1 [Torres] , Chino Anthrax, El Negro, Fantasma

When wrapping up direct, AUSA Amanda Liskamm asked Vicente whether he’s ever committed murder — he said he hadn’t but has ordered them “several times.” Kidnappings, too.

The murder of Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix, supposedly it wasn't Chino directly conducting the kill.  He had two of his most trusted men carry it out.

Assassinations were personally approved by Chapo and Mayo. They would discuss objectives and risks before giving the green light.

Vasconcelos

The Prosecutor asked about three specific incidents, including an attempted hit on former Mexican drug czar José Luis Santiago Vasconcelos.

After these looting, a military friend of Zambada informed him that the Beltran Leyva had as main objective to assassinate him.

They were following his wife with plans to kidnap her, kill her and send her his head.

This is when, Zambada left Qualiacan for Mazatlan

Dozens of people, including agents of the PFP, died that April 30 in clashes with allies of the Beltran Leyva.

Zambada said that he himself ordered Chapo and his father Mayo to kidnap and kill several people associated with their rivals.

Zambada said Vasconcelos ran afoul of the cartel because he arrested Chapo's son Iván Archivaldo.

Zambada said the move was "without basis" because Iván wasn't yet involved in the family business.

After three meetings, Chapo and Mayo gave the order for Vasconcelos to be killed.

He said they sent a hit squad led by an ex-military commando from Chapo's people. They sent a hit squad led by an ex-military commando from Chapo's people.

They were armed with three Guatemalan-made bazookas, but the guys were caught before the hit and the bazookas were confiscated.

Vasconcelos later died in a plane crash in 2008.

The cartel spent $750K on special equipment to intercept phone calls from a Mexican army source.

They overheard a cartel member named Julio Beltrán complaining about El Chapo and Mayo.

Zambada said Beltrán was grumbling about "esos pinches viejos" [ these fucking old guys] and saying it was time for a new generation to take over.

Mayo was livid by the comment and he ordered the killing. Mayo also ordered the murder of Teco Lindoro who he learned was working with AFO.

Mayo summoned Teco to a meeting, handcuffed him, and handed him over to a hitman to be killed.

Vicente said that while Teco was handcuffed, they called El Azul's son. The call was on speakerphone so that he could hear the interrogation.

Macho Prieto was reported killed during a shootout in Rocky Point near the Arizona border in 2013 Zambada is not sure if he was really died or not.

Video of second shootout scene slow motion

Note: A chase erupted, the military received help from two helicopters, they even used grenades to try to stop a pickup truck which finally ended completely burned in front of a small roundabout located at the exit of the condo complex. Two dead men laid dead there, both of them of heavy build, executed. One was close to the pickup truck, the other near the sidewalk. 

At the same time, another shootout erupted at the entrance of the complex, there laid another of the hitmen facing upwards, in the middle of the median road, with a AK-47 on his side, loaded with a round magazine. 

More bullets were shot in the hallway between the vacation buildings, there are even signs of the shootout in one of the condo´s facades, the luxurious apartment was left full of blood. In total –according to witness reports- there were five casualties. The other two bodies remained on the ground, without official custody, not even the yellow tape used to define the crime scene. < Passerbys drove around the burned out vehicle and two dead bodies, videotaping the scene, later uploading to social media including this video.

Some material used from: court documents, Reforma, El Norte, Jornada, Mica,