The United States is dropping charges against Mexican former general and former defense secretary Salvador Cienfuegos, it was announced last night. The decision was taken under pressure from Mexico, which wants to prosecute Cienfuegos itself. The former general was arrested in October on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking and proceeds laundering.
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The United States’ unexpected decision to drop the charges in the politically sensitive case was disclosed in a joint statement by the US Department of Justice and the Mexican Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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The arrest of Cienfuegos, an off duty general who for years worked with US authorities on cross-border security matters, put a lot of strain on relations between the two countries. Mexico had not been warned in advance of the arrest of Cienfuegos.
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Drug Brigade
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, in response to the arrest, threatened to break open cooperation agreements with the US on the mandate of the US anti-narcotics brigade DEA.
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“The United States Department of Justice has decided to drop charges against former US Secretary of State Cienfuegos so that he can be investigated and, if appropriate, charged under Mexican law,” it said. in the joint statement.
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The authorities of the two countries emphasized their “strong law enforcement partnership.” The United States Department of Justice said it has turned over evidence to Mexico and is willing to support Mexican authorities in further investigation.
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Cienfuegos, who also headed the Mexican Armed Forces, claimed earlier this month that he was not guilty of the alleged involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering. He was arrested in October in the American city of Los Angeles. Cienfuegos, 72, served as Secretary of Defense under President Enrique Peña Nieto between 2012 and 2018. His arrest came as a shock to the Mexican military and police leadership, given his good connections with senior officials.
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