"EL Mayo's Bad Night and The Proceso Interview

That dusky afternoon Ismael Zambada Garcia was more restless than usual. His instinct as a man of the mountains notified him that things didn’t look so good in the southern hill of Culiacán.

The guards passed him reports that was repetitive in the last couple days, mobilized Army was traveling through the zone. The soldiers installed camps through the helicopters that carried them and supplies.

“Choppers are very active”, his people reported to him. “stay focused and ready”, he ordered them.

The noise of the military helicopters arrived occasionally to the refuge. El Mayo Zambada’s senses intensified when the silence permitted it, some nearby sounds caused him to know that things didn’t look well.

And as the ridge began to darkened they received a radio notice that soldiers were near the den. “Leave, they’re on you”.

Some how, the troops approach el Mayo. Mocking the multiple circles of security that spread around the boss. In highways, roads, paths, hills and thickets were men “sow” themselves, some armed, others disguising them self with the environment. Watching the vanguard and the rearguard of the leader of Sinaloa’s cartel.

With little time to decide the elusion, they started hearing the motor of helicopters. They were on their trail in the dark of night, disembarking a commando of masked military men. The branches of trees and abundant bushes protected them. Mayo with three of his bodyguards walked in the half-light, a reflection of survival told him to walk toward the shadows where it was darker.

Feeling the boots of the soldiers stepping their heels. The shouts of “¡There they are, there they go!” and the deafening crash of the propellers breaking the wind. It opted for running while taking cover, grasping the land and seeking that nothing betrayed him, not even the creak of branches.

Immediately after half an hour of running for the hills, the calm arrived. The stealth continued for two or three hours more. Walking on rocks, shrubs and avoiding the branches of mesquites. Not saying one word that could betray them before the almost sure presence of soldiers in the area.

Without knowing where they’re going or where they’re at, they kept moving to a fast pace. Already without gas the only compass they carried was the foreboding that continued their control to move on and aware that some of the gunmen knew of the situation, were already seeking to find them.

Mayo ordered to turn off the radios and to put the cell phones on vibrate, but without answering the calls. They spoke in a low voice and codes, was the necessary thing for transmitting vital instructions for them.