U.S. federal authorities have extradited a former Mexican customs official who was wanted in Mexico on organized crime charges.
This event took place over the weekend when federal agents in the U.S. escorted 46-year-old Carlos Eugenio Benitez Horta to one of the international bridges linking Matamoros and Brownsville, Texas. There, he was handed over to Mexican federal authorities, who took him into custody and moved him to a detention facility in Mexico State. He is currently awaiting several court hearings tied to an ongoing corruption investigation concerning his position as a senior official within Mexico’s Customs Service.
Reports indicate that Benitez-Horta was one of the top officials at the customs office in Matamoros. Although Mexican authorities have not disclosed many details regarding the extradition, Matamoros has a long-standing reputation as a center for the illegal smuggling of fuel.
Additionally, reports have highlighted the rampant corruption within both the Immigration and Customs Service in Matamoros. These agencies are known to cooperate closely with Mexico’s Gulf Cartel, one of six criminal groups identified as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government.
The extradition comes at a time of increased tensions between the Mexican and U.S. governments due to the Trump administration’s efforts to combat drug cartels and target Mexican politicians and officials who might have aided or shielded them. A notable case involves the governor of Sinaloa, Ruben Rocha Moya, who faces drug trafficking conspiracy charges in the United States, along with nine of his associates.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly addressed Rocha Moya, a member of her MORENA political party, asserting that there is no proof of any misconduct and that the accusations against him are politically motivated.
