CrashOut Podcast

The kidnapping of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada on July 25, 2024, and his rendition to New Mexico, where he was handed into U.S. agents, is one of the craziest events in decades of crazy cartel wars in Mexico. It has huge implications, sparking a Sinaloa Cartel civil war, that has seen more than 3,800 murders, 4,400 kidnappings and 211 people shot dead by soldiers in the state in two years.

Yet there is still much we need to learn about the incident, and especially the role of U.S. agents. Joe Hefferon, a former New Jersey police captain, conducted an excellent investigation, which I discuss with him on this episode of the CrashOut podcast, and you can also read here. He discovers fascinating info that point to a wider role of U.S. federal agents in what they have already said was called “Operation Air Kings.” The most important findings include -

The tail number of the Beechcraft King Air that transported Mayo was cloned from a New Mexico company but also used in another plane in Brazil. This suggests use of the number in federal government operations.

A military plane landed in the Doña Ana County airfield shortly before the landing of Mayo.

Wording of a U.S. government message about “a highly complex, secretive, and daring arrest” suggests a much bigger role than simply arresting Mayo off the plane.

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This morning at 11 am New York time, Judge Brian Cogan, who also sentenced Mayo’s partner El Chapo and corrupt security chief Genaro García Luna, handed Mayo a life sentence.

The aging godfather received the sentence after limping into the court room in an orange jumpsuit, and reportedly exclaimed an “hay cabrón!” (or a “damn, man!”) to show his difficulty getting up, according to reporters in the gallery. He apologized for his crimes and gave a short sermon about needing to end the cartel wars in Mexico.

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I talk to top crime journalist David Matthews about the truth of gangs, robbery and drugs in London and across the UK. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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I look at the bombshell indictment of governor Rubén Rocha on drug trafficking charges.

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CrashOut talks to Danny Gold and Sean Williams at The Underworld podcast about the five dumbest ever crime stories.

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