Mexico has pledged to arrest the leader of a powerful drug cartel under an agreement with US Attorney General William Barr to drop drug trafficking charges against former Secretary of National Defense Salvador Cienfuegos, he told Reuters an official of the Mexican government.
The US dropped the case against General Cienfuegos this week citing “sensitive and important” foreign policy considerations that outweighed interest in pursuing the charges.
“Mexico promised to collaborate with the United States in the capture of a primary target,” said the official, adding that the criminal has trafficked large quantities of fentanyl to the United States.
A spokesman for the United States Department of Justice declined to comment and referred to earlier statements, which indicate that the case against Cienfuegos was dismissed as a sign of confidence in the Mexican justice system and due to diplomatic considerations.
The Mexican government has not clarified how the plan to bring him back to Mexico came about or when he requested his return.
The bureaucrat, along with another high-level official in the López Obrador government, said Barr first proposed dropping the charges against Cienfuegos in a call with Ebrard in early November; The chancellor confirmed this week two calls with Barr, one in October and another on November 6.
Millán said Mexico requested that the charges in the United States against Cienfuegos be dropped, but could not confirm when or if the request occurred before the call.
Three other government sources said that Mexico requested that Cienfuegos be returned to face justice in the country; it was not specified when the request was made.
The United States brought Cienfuegos back to Mexico on Wednesday, after a district judge dropped the charges against him at Barr’s request; According to the agreement, the general will now be investigated in Mexico.
The arrest of Cienfuegos was the result of an investigation to verify links between the military and traffickers of a faction of the Beltrán-Leyva brothers’ cartel, which he allegedly helped move tons of narcotics; the military man has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Mexican government, angry that it was not warned about the investigation, praised Cienfuegos’ return as a diplomatic achievement and a victory for the nation’s sovereignty.
MEMBER OF THE CJNG FALLS
Elements of the FGR and the Army arrested Agustín N, Don Guty O The 14, one of the six main regional bosses of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel.
The apprehension of this operator of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, The Mencho, was carried out on November 13 in Puerto Vallarta in a search where they seized short firearms, chargers and cartridges, a vehicle and bags with fentanyl pills.
Agustin N led the entire mountain region of the northern coast of Jalisco and had various populations in that area subjected.
THE PROFILE
THE MOST WANTED
The Alfredillo Guzmán
Son of El Chapo, control of the Sinaloa Cartel.
May Zambada
Most powerful member of the Pacific Cartel.
The Mencho
Leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
Rafael Caro-Quintero
Involved in the murder of Enrique Camarena.
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