Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation misrepresented its role in the 2024 [1] capture of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García.

The probe highlights growing tensions over national sovereignty and the legality of foreign operations on Mexican soil. If the U.S. concealed the extent of the FBI's participation, it could strain bilateral security cooperation and diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Government investigators in Mexico are examining the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the Sinaloa cartel leader, which occurred in 2024 [1]. Zambada García was captured on Mexican territory before being flown to the United States [3]. The current investigation was announced in July 2026 [2], approximately two years after the event [3].

A museum exhibit in Mexico has further fueled the controversy by raising new questions about the nature of U.S. involvement. The investigation seeks to verify whether Washington provided an accurate account of the operation, or if the FBI's role was intentionally obscured.

While Mexican authorities are pursuing these answers, U.S. officials have pushed back against the premise of the probe. Ken Salazar said he did not lie about U.S. involvement in the capture of Zambada García [The Guardian/MexicoNewsDaily].

The dispute centers on whether the operation adhered to international legal standards and the agreed-upon protocols for joint law enforcement actions. Mexico is now seeking to determine if the U.S. bypassed sovereign boundaries by hiding the operational details of the FBI's participation in the arrest.

“Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation misrepresented its role”

This investigation reflects a broader struggle between the U.S. desire to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and Mexico's insistence on territorial sovereignty. By questioning the FBI's transparency, Mexico is signaling that security cooperation cannot come at the expense of legal autonomy, potentially complicating future joint operations against the Sinaloa cartel.