He United States Department of Justice has filed a formal accusation against drug traffickers Miguel Treviño Morales, known as ‘El Z-40’, and Omar Treviño Morales, alias ‘El Z-42’. Although both are incarcerated, they are accused of continuing to operate in drug trafficking.
The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, announced the accusation on his X account as part of efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that generate insecurity and violence in both Mexico and the United States. The indictment includes charges of participating in a continuing criminal enterprise, drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms offenses and international money laundering conspiracy.
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Despite their imprisonment in Mexico in 2013 and 2015, respectively, the brothers are alleged to have maintained control of the Northeast Cartel (CDN), formerly known as ‘Los Zetas, and have continued their criminal activities.
It is noted that they have used relatives to manage the cartel’s operations from prison. As a result, US authorities have requested the collaboration of the Mexican government to facilitate the extradition of both of them so that they face charges in the United States.. If convicted, they could receive a maximum sentence of life in prison.
In a recent twist, Miguel Treviño Morales denied being ‘El Z-40’ in a letter addressed to the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. In the letter, he argues that he has spent 11 years trying to prove that he is not the leader of the Northeast Cartel, as he has been accused since 2013. His defense maintains that his arrest for links to organized crime is due to a confusion with another person who shares his name, and they have presented evidence to clarify this situation.
EE
