Sinaloa Cartel

Ismael Quintero Arellanes, alias “Fierro”, appeared this Thursday before an investigative judge in the federal court in Brooklyn, New York, after being extradited, on Wednesday, from Mexico, and his preventive detention was ordered, pending trial.

Breon Peace, District Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the extradition and appearance of Arellanes, accused of participating in a large-scale drug distribution conspiracy and of using one or more firearms in connection with drug trafficking crimes. The accused was arrested in Mexico on July 15, 2022.

“The defendant was allegedly a senior lieutenant and head of security for Rafael Caro Quintero, an infamous drug lord whose violent organization has shipped thousands of kilograms of drugs to the United States for decades,” Peace said, according to a report. Statement issued by the Eastern District Attorney’s Office. “Dismantling the leadership of drug trafficking organizations that have wreaked havoc here and abroad is a top priority for our Attorney General’s Office.”

Peace thanked the DEA office in Mexico City, the US Marshals Service, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Government of Mexico.

“Quintero Arellanes was the enforcer of Rafael Caro Quintero’s narcotics empire, responsible for distributing drugs, violence and death throughout Mexico and the United States,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “This extradition marks another victory for the American rule of law. by bringing to justice the drug traffickers who have caused the most damage in our communities. I congratulate the men and women who dedicated tireless hours to this investigation in pursuit of Justice.”

According to the indictment and court documents, the defendant was a high-ranking member of the transnational criminal organization Caro Quintero, led by Rafael Caro Quintero.

As the leader of the drug trafficking organization, the statement said, Caro Quintero employed numerous people, each of whom played a role in ensuring the organization’s success, including “hitmen,” or hired assassins who carried out acts of violence. in Mexico, such as murders and kidnappings, to silence potential witnesses and retaliate against anyone who provided information to security forces; security personnel for company leaders; “jefes de plaza” who controlled the company’s territories; drug carriers, and money launderers.

Quintero Arellanes, indicates the US government, was Caro Quintero’s main lieutenant and head of security. In that role, Quintero Arellanes served as Caro Quintero’s personal bodyguard, relayed messages and orders between Caro Quintero and other members of the organization to facilitate drug trafficking activities, and protected Caro Quintero to allow her to avoid his capture.

For his conduct, Quintero Arellanes is accused of participating in an international conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. from February 2015 to June 2018 and in an international conspiracy to distribute marijuana from January 1980 to June 2018, as well as to use firearms in connection with his drug trafficking organization.

New York.— Minutes after the former Mexican Secretary of Security, Genaro Garcia Lunawas convicted of the five charges against him in the court of the Eastern District of NYthe prosecution praised the US justice system and designated the defendant as a “traitor” of Mexico.

“García Luna, once at the pinnacle of law enforcement in Mexico, will live the rest of his days having to face justice. He will live the rest of his days having been revealed as a traitor to his country and to the law enforcement officers who risked their lives to take down drug cartels,” said Breon Peace, US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

“It is inconceivable that the defendant betrayed his duty as Secretary of Public Safety by greedily accepting millions of dollars in bribes stained with the blood of cartel wars and drug-related battles on the streets of the United States and Mexico, in exchange for protecting those murderers and traffickers you solemnly swore to investigate.Today’s verdict is a shining light for the rule of law, good over evil, and justice over injustice for all those who have suffered as a result of the deplorable crimes of the defendant,” he added.

Anne Milgram, who is in charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)said that “today’s conviction of Genaro García Luna clearly demonstrates that the DEA will stop at nothing to prosecute corrupt political officials who engage in drug trafficking and violence.”

read also García Luna, the hour of silence; This was the last day of deliberations against the former Mexican official

He stressed that García Luna “received millions of dollars in bribes from the Sinaloa cartel in exchange for protecting his drug trafficking activities and facilitating the importation of cocaine and other drugs into the United States. This case reaffirms the DEA’s dedication to pursuing and bringing to justice those who enable the Sinaloa criminal cartel to flood the United States with deadly drugs that are killing Americans at unprecedented rates. This should send a clear message — to all political leaders around the world.
who trade positions of influence to further transnational organized crime—that the DEA will relentlessly pursue drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety and health of the American people.”

For his part, Ivan J. Arvelo, special agent in charge of the Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York, pointed out that “criminal organizations cannot function at the level of the Sinaloa drug cartel without the support of corrupt politicians. and corrupt officials like Genaro García Luna, who help and abet them. García Luna, a trusted public official, used his official position to help this violent drug cartel in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes.”

He agreed with the prosecutor that “García Luna not only betrayed his position, his people and his country, but his actions facilitated the importation of tons of illegal drugs into the United States. Corrupt officials like García Luna create a dangerous working environment for US security forces, who often share sensitive information with the Mexican government to stem the flow of dangerous narcotics into the United States. HSI, along with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue individuals and organizations that have a negative impact on the national security of the United States and the safety of its citizens.”

García Luna, 54, was found guilty of participating in the management of a criminal enterprise whose activity continues to this day; conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to distribute and possess 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute it in the United States, and conspiracy to import the same amount or more.

read also Justice came to García Luna; verdict celebrated in National Palace

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