Mexico Deports Drug Trafficking Leader El Huevo After His Arrest Fueled Violent Attacks
Mexico had deported a suspected drug trafficking leader identified as Juan Trevino,a.k.a. El Huevo. His deportation was made after his arrest drove armed attacks by his organization on almost two dozen military installations and a U.S. consulate.
El Huevo was arrested on Sunday in the northern Mexico border of the state of Tamaulipas. He was wanted for crimes such as drug trafficking and money laundering, according to a U.S. News report.
Rosa Rodriguez, Mexico's secretary of security, noted in a press conference that it was a blow to one of the most important criminal organizations in the northeast of the country, with influence in at least five states and operations in the United States.
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El Huevo's Arrest
El Huevo's arrest was done in a region that was considered to be one of the most violent areas of the country, with his gang members generating an armed attack.
The gang was identified as the Northwest Cartel, who attacked with 22 military installations, 16 road blockades, and collateral damage to the U.S. consulate in Nuevo Laredo, according to authorities.
More than 700 military personnel and four helicopters were deployed to secure the area after the attacks.
El Huevo was reported to be connected to the family that allegedly founded the Los Zetas cartel. Its leader was Heriberto Lazcano "El Lazca," who is a former military man.
El Lazca was killed by Mexican soldiers in October 2012.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that one of his government's main challenges is to fight the violence in the country.
Lopez Obrador has also faced criticism from his detractors for his policy, "hugs, not bullets," according to a Today Online report.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Response to Drug War
In 2018, Lopez Obrador entered the office, stating his commitment to end the corruption and crony capitalism that was related to his predecessors.
He promised to implement new programs that would address poverty and social problems from the ground up while also cleaning up the government from the top to bottom.
During his campaign, he also promised to end the militarized war against drug trafficking organizations, according to a Forbes report.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration noted that the Jalisco Cartel dominates fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking in Mexico and is now ahead of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Jalisco Cartel is now the main drug trafficking group operating in three-quarters of Mexico's 32 states, according to an NPR News report.
Vidal Romero, a political scientist at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, described Lopez Obrador's response on drugs as having no strategy to combat the drug cartels.
Lopez Obrador has touted the new National Guard. However, Romero said that it is still the same Mexican army, "doing the same inadequate job."
The Mexican president said that his administration had inherited the drug cartels. However, he did not announce any new police offensive against cartels.
He earlier said that his administration will fight cartels with "intelligence, not force." He added that he will not declare war against the drug trafficking organizations.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Extraditan a EEUU a 'El Huevo', presunto líder del Cártel del Noreste - Expreso de la Mañana - from Noticieros Televisa