“We don’t kill innocents,” a voice declares, while a group of about 20 masked, armed men brandish long guns. Several of them hold a banner bearing the initials C.D.S. M-F, alluding to the Sinaloa Cartel and the faction led by Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s son, Ismael Zambada Sicarios—known as “Mayito Flaco.”
In a video released this Monday—lasting approximately two minutes—the alleged criminals claim responsibility for the killing of 10 people in Zacatecas. The incident has shocked the state, particularly after five of the bodies were found hanging from a bridge over the weekend.
In the recording, they state that they “kill and deprive of liberty” those who fail to respect agreements made with them and their allies. They also send a message to the state governor, David Monreal (of the Morena party): “We ask you, Governor David Monreal, to honor and respect the agreements your cabinet has with our organization; we are fulfilling our end of the bargain—as evidenced by the task you commissioned us to carry out,” they say.
They also issue a threat: “We want to make it clear that if you betray us—regarding the pacts we have not only with you but also with your security forces—you and your entire lineage will meet the same fate, or worse.”
The video also references another CDS criminal cell: “Los Cabrera.” This group, which originated in the region between Durango and Coahuila, were longtime allies of “El Mayo” Zambada and are now allied with his son, “Mayito Flaco.” Another name mentioned by the masked individuals is that of General Porfirio Fuentes Vélez, interim commander of the 5th Military Region and the officer in charge of military operations in the states of Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit, Aguascalientes, and Zacatecas. “Don’t think you intimidate us with your fucking special forces that just arrived in the state,” they say. Fuentes Vélez, who has over 40 years of service, was sworn into his post just last August at the region’s headquarters in Jalisco.
The Zacatecas government has not officially confirmed the recording, but this Monday, State Security Secretary Arturo Medina Mayoral—adopting a tone completely different from his previous message regarding the security operations launched after the massacre—defended the authorities’ work and described the criminal group responsible for the murders as “vile, repugnant, deranged, abusive, and cowardly.”
“They are cowards because they hide from the authorities, but we will find them—even if, to many of you, these seem like mere words. Those of us in command here are not cowards. I am an Army general, and I will never back down, no matter who is involved. They will face state forces; we will hunt them down. And they will flee the state; that is why we have already requested troops from the 5th Military Region, which has sent them here, and why we have requested federal support—intelligence units are coming to search for them,” he said.
