Mexico's Sheinbaum government faces criticism over false statements on El Mayo Zambada transfer

During the July 26, 2024 edition of the presidential press briefing, Mexico’s secretary of Public Security, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, gave detailed information about the aircraft, pilot and departure city involved in the transfer of drug‑lord “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States. The details were later shown to be false, and the original video was edited to remove the segment. Subsequent reporting identified the pilot as Mauro Alberto Núñez Ojeda, alias “El Jando,” a known operator for the Los Chapitos cartel, who was handed over to U.S. authorities. Critics described the incident as a serious communication failure by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, highlighting inconsistencies in the official narrative and the removal of the erroneous footage.