The defense of "El Chapo" insists that the true leader of the Sinaloa cartel is "El Mayo" Zambada

In a final histrionic plea, Chapo Guzman's defense told the jury Thursday not to believe the co-operating criminal witnesses "trash"and they lied under oath, baduring that the true leader of Sinaloa's cartel is Mayo Zambada and that the defendant is just a scapegoat.

The 14 former members of Mexican capo Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman who testified against him, the majority to obtain a reduced sentence, "not only did they admit to having lied every day of their lives, their lives miserable and selfish, but they lied to you in court"says the lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman jury in federal court in Brooklyn.

Ismael "Mayo" Zambada, co-founder of Sinaloa cartel "This is the real piece missing at this place"he said.

"Mayo is the largest drug trafficker in Mexico for decades and has never been arrested," Lichtman said.

He badured that it was never El Chapo that allegedly paid a $ 100 million bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, said former Colombian drug chief Alex Cifuentes, a former right of the capo. but may.

It does not make sense that El Chapo paid such a bribe "to be hunted like an animal"By the authorities, while Mayo, aged 70 and never having spent a day in jail,"sunbathing in the mountains"and"it's free as a birdsaid Lichtman, an experienced lawyer who became famous by saving from prison the son of a famous New York mafia boss, John Gotti Jr.

"Mayo Zambada made the $ 100 million payment to Peña Nieto and benefited the most," he said.

The former Mexican president categorically denies to have been corrupted by the cartel of Sinaloa.

Lichtman is especially interested in the alleged lies of the Colombian narco brothers Alex and Jorge Cifuentes, big suppliers of cocaine in El Chapo.

"Would you buy a car from the Cifuentes, would you let the Cifuentes take care of your son?" Of course not! The car would break when you leave the car park. Your child would be sold for a kilo of cocaine. But will you trust these men to condemn Mr. Guzman? "He asked.

"If they do not believe in cooperating witnesses, they can not condemn Mr. Guzmán," he insisted. "It does not do justice, it's just one thing: catch Chapo, just catch Chapo!"

El Chapo, 61, is accused of bringing hundreds of tons of drugs to the United States for 25 years. If he is found guilty, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The jury will start deliberating next Monday.