**García Vilchis Denies “El Mayo” Had Police Protection: “One Officer Does Not Make a Summer”**
Ana Elizabeth García Vilchis, head of the section ‘Who’s Who in the Week’s Lies’ during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s morning press conference, denied on August 14, 2024, that notorious Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, age 76, had protection from police and State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) personnel in Sinaloa. This denial came after Zambada, through a letter released by his lawyer Frank Pérez on August 10, claimed he had such protection.
García Vilchis criticized media reports suggesting that “El Mayo” had commander José Rosario Heras López of the Sinaloa State Investigation Police as his bodyguard. Heras López has been missing since July 25, 2024, the same day Zambada was taken to the U.S., allegedly against his will.
“Four security agents accompanied me, two stayed outside, and the two who entered with me were José Rosario Heras López and Rodolfo Chaidez,” Zambada detailed in the letter.
However, García Vilchis stressed that while Heras López belonged to the Sinaloa State Investigative Police, he was not connected to federal or state governments led by Morena’s Rubén Rocha Moya. “It’s false that Ismael Zambada had government protection. Reforma should know that one police officer does not make a summer,” she added, emphasizing that Heras López, though part of the local FGE, was not employed by federal or state executives.
President López Obrador also commented on August 12, 2024, stating that his government was unaware of any protection details involving Zambada and a Sinaloa State Police Commander, mentioning that this issue required a thorough investigation.
“Did your government know that a commander from the Sinaloa Attorney General’s office was providing security for Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada?” a reporter asked. “No, we didn’t know,” the president responded, adding that finding the missing officers was a priority.
According to a report by Reforma, José Rosario Heras López was actively serving as Commander of the Investigation Police in Sinaloa and also functioned as Zambada’s security detail. However, he has been missing since July 25, 2024. Heras López had been stationed in the El Salado area for over a decade and was also previously assigned under Jesús Antonio Aguilar Íñiguez, who had been the Director of the State Ministerial Police.
**Secondary Article: Key Figure in Sinaloa Cartel Unveils Alleged Official Corruption**
In related news, the capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada brought with it shocking allegations of significant collusion between state officials and drug cartels. As reported by multiple sources, Zambada’s detailed account of having high-ranking state police in his protection raised alarms about the depth of corruption within law enforcement.
U.S. authorities are actively investigating these claims, and several other Sinaloa officials have come under scrutiny. The probe extends to various levels of the government to determine the extent of the cartel’s infiltration.
Stay tuned for more updates as this complex investigation unfolds.
For the latest updates and in-depth analysis on this story, visit TJGringo.com.