Sheinbaum: AMLO feared US agency involvement, not El Mayo’s testimony

In excerpts from his forthcoming memoir, former U.S. ambassador Ken Salazar claims that former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) was “very worried” about the information drug‑lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada might reveal to U.S. authorities after his July 2024 capture. Sheinbaum, Mexico’s current president, said the president’s concern was not about any statements the cartel leader could make, but about possible participation by U.S. agencies in the operation that took place on Mexican soil. She emphasized that the relationship with Salazar was paused because it was never clear how the arrest was carried out, and she urged waiting for Salazar’s full book, due July 28, before drawing conclusions. The dispute revives tension that arose after Zambada’s detention in New Mexico and highlights Mexico’s insistence on sovereignty and transparent bilateral security cooperation. Multiple Mexican outlets reported the same points, citing the book advance and Sheinbaum’s press briefing.