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Mexican drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, has been apprehended in Texas and has pleaded not guilty to US drug trafficking charges. He and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of “El Chapo,” were arrested upon their arrival in the United States aboard a private plane.

What’s the deal: Court records show that Zambada chose to waive his right to appear in court and requested that a not guilty plea be entered on his behalf. Currently, his lawyers have not issued any statements.

What happened: Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez were arrested after landing in the El Paso, Texas area on a private plane. Reports are conflicting: some suggest the men may have voluntarily traveled to the US, while others claim they were deceived into coming.

Mexican Government Involvement: The Mexican government was informed about the detentions but did not participate in the operation. Mexican Security Minister Rosa Rodriguez confirmed that Mexican authorities were not involved in the arrest or any potential negotiations leading up to it​.

More on Zambada “El Mayo”: Believed to be in his 70s, Zambada has been a key figure in the drug trade, co-founding the Sinaloa Cartel with El Chapo, who is currently serving a life sentence in the US. Unlike some of his associates, Zambada has largely stayed out of the public eye and maintained a low profile for decades.

Statement from President Biden: In a statement released by the White House, President Biden said, “I commend the work of our law enforcement officials who made this arrest for their ongoing work to bring Sinaloa Cartel leaders to justice. Too many of our citizens have lost their lives to the scourge of fentanyl. Too many families have been broken and are suffering because of this destructive drug. My Administration will continue doing everything we can to hold deadly drug traffickers to account and to save American lives.”