The Prosecutor’s Office argued that revealing recordings, forensic reports, and interviews could put ongoing investigations and national security at risk; the Transparency Committee confirmed the five-year classification.
The Attorney General’s Office of the Republic (FGR) has classified for five years the recordings, forensic reports, interviews, and other information contained in the investigation files related to Mauro Alberto Núñez Ojeda, “El Jando”, identified as the pilot who transported Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López from Culiacán to the United States in July 2024.
The information will remain classified until 2031, after the FGR’s Transparency Committee confirmed the classification on August 19.
According to El Universal, the decision came in response to an information request submitted by the newspaper, which also requested a public version of the documents.
Why did the FGR classify information about “El Jando”?
The FGR argued that releasing the information would represent a real, demonstrable, and identifiable risk to national security, because the data is part of investigations that are still ongoing.
According to official document FGR/UETAG/0042 15/2026, releasing the documents would make it possible to learn about lines of investigation, evidence, and investigative procedures carried out by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office to clarify the facts and determine, if applicable, criminal responsibility.
The prosecutor’s office maintained that the requested information is linked to an ongoing investigation, meaning that making it public could affect the prosecution of crimes and the effectiveness of the investigations.
FGR fears exposing its lines of investigation
The agency explained that there is a “real risk” because publishing the documents could reveal the lines of investigation being pursued by Federal Public Prosecutors.
It also classified the risk as “demonstrable,” considering that releasing the information would expose the institution’s effectiveness in carrying out the necessary investigative procedures.
Finally, it described the risk as “identifiable,” because the documents contain information related to an investigation that remains open.
According to the FGR, disclosing these data would make it possible to determine the institution’s capacity to establish whether a crime occurred and identify those who participated in its commission.
What information about “El Jando” will remain classified?
The classification includes recordings, forensic reports, interviews, and other records that form part of the investigation files related to Núñez Ojeda.
The prosecutor’s office also stated that providing documents that form part of the investigation could affect the human rights of the people involved.
For this reason, it argued that public officials are obligated to maintain strict confidentiality, secrecy, and classification over the records contained in investigations.
FGR confirmed in July that it had identified “El Jando”
The classification comes shortly after the FGR itself acknowledged that it initially had not identified “El Jando” as the pilot who transported “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States.
On July 15, the agency reported that in June of this year it found evidence establishing that Núñez Ojeda’s voice and fingerprints matched those of the pilot who transported “El Mayo” and Joaquín Guzmán López from Culiacán to New Mexico on July 25, 2024.
The transportation occurred on the same day that “El Mayo” was taken against his will to the United States, according to the version of the operation that was made public.
Until when will the information about “El Jando” remain classified?
The FGR Transparency Committee confirmed on August 19 that the information would be classified for a period of five years.
The classification will remain in effect until 2031, although it could end earlier if the circumstances that led to the classification cease to exist.
The resolution establishes that the information will remain classified “for a period of five years or until the circumstances that gave rise to its classification cease to exist.”
FGR warns of penalties for disclosing information
The prosecutor’s office also warned that public officials who disclose information contained in investigation files could face criminal and administrative liability.
According to the agency, breaching the confidentiality of the files could constitute a crime against the administration of justice, in addition to resulting in penalties for failing to safeguard documents and information under their responsibility.
With this decision, the FGR will keep key information classified for the coming years, including details about how “El Jando” was identified and what investigative evidence exists regarding his alleged involvement in transporting “El Mayo” Zambada to the United States.
Source: politico
