Notorious drug lord Osiel Cardenas deported to Mexico

(CLO) On December 16, the US government deported Osiel Cardenas Guillen, former leader of the notorious Gulf Cartel drug gang known for its extreme violence, to Mexico.

Two Mexican government officials confirmed to Reuters that Cardenas had been transferred to Almoloya prison and was facing three criminal charges in his home country.

Osiel Cardenas, 57, was charged with organized crime and illegal use of funds. He was once one of the most dangerous figures in Mexican crime history, known for using violence such as beheadings and terrorism to control drug trafficking operations.

Osiel Cárdenas Guillén when he was arrested. Photo: US Police

Before his capture in a shootout in 2003, Cardenas led the Gulf Cartel, one of Mexico’s oldest gangs. He was also the founder of the Zetas Cartel, an armed branch of the Gulf Cartel formed by former special forces soldiers. The group later split off and became one of the most dangerous criminal gangs, engaging in kidnappings for ransom and corporate extortion.

Osiel Cardenas was turned over to Mexican law enforcement by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) at the San Diego-Tijuana port of entry without incident. ICE representative Samuel Olson stressed that the deportation demonstrates the United States’ continued commitment to protecting public safety and ensuring justice.

After more than 20 years in maximum security prisons in the US, Cardenas was released in August 2024 and is being held by US immigration authorities before being officially deported.

The Gulf Cartel was once one of the most powerful gangs, but in recent years it has been overshadowed by more powerful gangs such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Cao Phong (according to ABC, Reuters, straitstimes)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trum-ma-tuy-khet-tieng-osiel-cardenas-bi-truc-xuat-ve-mexico-post325975.html