The Traitor by Anabel Hernandez

A groundbreaking insider’s look at the world of Mexican drug cartels, told through the eyes of a former member and the star witness in the trial of El Chapo.

The Sinaloa Cartel is widely believed to be the most powerful drug cartel in the world, led by the legendary Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and, until his arrest, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. In 2009, El Mayo’s son, Vicente Zambada Niebla, himself a high-ranking figure in the organization, was arrested and extradited to stand trial in the United States, where he would become a key witness in the case against El Chapo. The Traitor is Zambada’s story, told in his own words, as recorded in his private journal and in the documents he drafted as part of his plea deal. Anabel Hernández, one of the most dedicated chroniclers of the Mexican drug trade, weaves together this firsthand testimony with her own shocking research to craft a stunning exposé of life inside Mexico’s drug cartels. She names names, introducing readers to the myriad figures who people this dangerous world. A dazzling feat of reportage, The Traitor is a deep dive into a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise.

Publication History: Vintage Original

ANABEL HERNÁNDEZ is a Mexican journalist known for her investigative journalism in newspapers, magazines, and books. Her work involves issues such as slave labor, sexual exploitation, political corruption and abuse of power, and drug cartels. She won the Golden Pen of Freedom award in 2012. She has written other works, such as Mexico in Flames: Calderón’s Legacy (2013) and Narcoland: The Mexican Drug Lords and Their Godfathers (2010).

Author Hometown: Mexico