The release from prison of the former head of the Gulf Cartel and known founder of Los Zetas has sparked speculation on both sides of the border. Some hoped he would return to his homeland and regain control of his criminal enterprise. Others argued that he would remain in the United States under the witness protection program. The issue has sparked widespread speculation and rumors that have spread like wildfire.
The release of former Gulf Cartel leader Osiel Cárdenas Guillén from a US prison this week has sparked much speculation about his future. Report According to NBC News, Cardenas Guillen is in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is scheduled to be extradited to Mexico next week, where he faces multiple criminal charges.
In the months leading up to his release, Mexican authorities had heard rumors about his eventual return to Matamoros and that Gulf Cartel associates were paving the way for him. Others claimed that other Gulf Cartel leaders were working to kill him upon his return to Mexico. Mexican press ran a variety of conflicting stories about the drug lord's release and possible return to power.
Cardenas became a highly feared figure after he rose to power in the late 1990s with a murderous streak that saw him take control of the Gulf Cartel. He quickly consolidated his power by recruiting a group of ex-soldiers and police officers to serve as his personal bodyguards and hit men. The group grew in power and became known as Los Zetas.
The US Department of Justice indicted Cárdenas on drug trafficking charges in 2000, but it was not until 2003 that Mexican troops arrested him in Matamoros after a fierce gun battle. In 2007, Mexican authorities extradited Cárdenas, and an initial trial took place in Brownsville, but the case was largely closed to the public. Cárdenas faced multiple life sentences if convicted, but instead pleaded guilty to various charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a $50 million fine in 2010. Time served since his extradition is believed to have been credited, but his release this week marks the start of Cárdenas receiving various sentence reductions for his cooperation with authorities.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas' Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. Twitter and FacebookContact details: email address.
Brandon Darby is Managing Director and Editor in Chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas' Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart executives. Twitter and FacebookContact details: email address.
