2 Cops Associated With El Mencho's Jalisco Cartel Get More Than 77 Years in Prison in Mexico

Two former cops have been sentenced to more than 77 years in prison by a district judge in Mexico for their roles in the Jalisco cartel.

According to Borderland Beat, "Pedro S" and "Ruperto R," both arrested in January 2014, were found guilty of committing an "organized crime" in connection to kidnapping, "illegal deprivation of liberty (kidnapping modality), and qualified vehicle theft."

According to the Attorney General's Office, the function of the two former police officers assigned at La Barca town in the Mexico's state of Jalisco was to monitor the movement of fellow police officers and soldiers.

The Attorney General's Office further noted that Pedro S and Ruperto R also participated in kidnappings and other crimes for the Jalisco cartel in Michoacan and Jalisco states.

Aside from the 77 years and six months imprisonment, the former cops must also pay a fine of around 658,300 pesos (US$32,448). They were also disqualified from holding any public office, job, or commission for a period equivalent to the given prison sentence.

11 Jalisco Cartel Members Arrested in Mexico's Quintana Roo

The two former cops associated with the Jalisco cartel were sentenced a few days after authorities arrested 11 Jalisco cartel members during an operation in Cancun, Quintana Roo.

Borderland Beat reported that the cartel group was arrested on Friday inside a building in the municipality of Benito Juarez, where three people were being held against their will.

The outlet noted that the Jalisco cartel members, composed of 10 men and a woman, kidnapped the trio, who were rescued alive but injured.

According to the State Attorney General's Office, the arrested persons admitted that they belonged to Jalisco New Generation Cartel and were responsible for locating and abducting people related to drug dealing activities to obtain information from other drug dealers.

Authorities said they had been monitoring the group for two months, and they knew their criminal activities, which included homicides and kidnappings.

The State Attorney General's Office noted that four long firearms, three short firearms, and 12 magazines were confiscated during the operation.

El Mencho's Jalisco Cartel in Mexico

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel or Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) is considered one of Mexico's most dangerous and powerful drug cartels. It is allegedly involved in mass graves, kidnappings, acid baths, and video recording beheadings.

The Jalisco cartel had risen to power after Mexican security forces killed former Sinaloa Cartel capo Ignacio Coronel in July 2010.

Two groups fought for control of the drug trafficking in Jalisco state upon Coronel's death. The Torcidos and La Resistencia were the two factions that fought.

The Torcidos now became the Jalisco cartel and rose as the successors to the Sinaloan cap's network in the region, according to InsightCrime.

Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera is currently leading the Jalisco cartel. The U.S. government has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest as he continues to evade capture. Mexico, on the other hand, has offered a reward of 30 million pesos or US$1.6 million.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Adrianna Grant