The Sinaloa Cartel’s presence outside of Mexico has led to some of its operators having conflicts with foreign criminals. In a brief video, an alleged operator of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada sent a message to a dangerous Belgian trafficker to collect a debt he owes to his organization.
The warning was addressed to Othman El Ballouti, a drug trafficker who smuggles cocaine through Belgium. He was recently sanctioned by United States (US) authorities due to his involvement in health crimes.
The video, which is just over a minute long, was published by journalist Jorin van de Az in the Dutch media Gazet van Antwerpen on July 19, although the exact date of its creation is unknown. The clip shows an alleged Mexican drug trafficker in a white T-shirt and black cap inside a vehicle.
At first, the Mexican – whose identity is unknown – apologized to Ballouti for sending his people to collect a debt. However, he later demanded that he settle the outstanding issues with them.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Ballouti. The reason for this message is to ask you in advance for an apology for having sent people from my organization to the doors of a person’s house in an attempt to collect an outstanding debt he owes us,” said the trafficker, who is presumed to be originally from Sinaloa. He then asked him to show the clip to his European operators so they could tell him who he was.
“Send this video to Culiacán, Sinaloa, and show it to whoever you want. There are a lot of people from Sinaloa in Europe. And tell them, ‘This person is charging me.’ And those people will tell you who I am,” said the Mexican in a more threatening tone.
Halfway through the video is when he mentions that he is related to “El Mayo” Zambada, one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel who has never set foot in jail and for whom US authorities are offering a reward of up to US$15 million in exchange for information leading to his capture.
Further resources:
- Four members of Tijuana Cartel, including Fabian Pérez and José Raúl González, sentenced to 200+ years in Baja California
- Infamous Galician drug trafficker José Carlos Pombar Cameán found dead in his cell at A Lama (Pontevedra) prison
- Operation New Horizon brings down Los Reincidentes, a Colombian drug ring tied to Sinaloa Cartel
“Just as I have the balls to come and make this video with my face, Mr. Ballouti, I am standing with my people from Mayo Zambada, do you understand me? Then check me out and I apologize in advance on behalf of my organization”.
At the end of the video, the Mexican offered another apology to Ballouti but charged him to pay the “debt of honor” as soon as possible. However, at no point did he mention the debt and whether it was related to a drug shipment or money.
“But debts are debts of honor, debts of men. This is a man’s business, not a faggot’s business. Then I charge you to get your act together with that debt, sir. I apologize again in advance, but you also need to get serious. Here we are. Take care, Ballouti family,” concluded Ismael Zambada’s operator.
Who is Othman el Ballouti
According to the US Treasury Department, Othman El Ballouti is considered a “high-level drug trafficker” who runs an international criminal organization dedicated to smuggling cocaine, which enters through the port of Antwerp, Belgium, and is distributed throughout Europe.
Othamn operates alongside his younger brother, Younes El Ballouti. The illicit money obtained is “laundered” through companies based in the People’s Republic of China. Because of their involvement in drug trafficking, they are wanted by Belgian authorities.
However, it is presumed that both Othamn and Younes are refugees in the United Arab Emirates, specifically in Dubai, to avoid capture. However, on July 19, the Treasury Department sanctioned these traffickers and one of their Belgian operators, Youssef Ben Azza, due to their illicit activities.