Ex-Mexico army chief arrested in LA on drugs, money charges
By Associated Press
8:58pm Oct 16, 2020
Former Mexican defence secretary General Salvador Cienfuegos, who led the country’s army for six years under ex-President Enrique Peña Nieto, has been arrested on drug trafficking and money laundering charges at Los Angeles International Airport, US and Mexican sources said yesterday.
Two people with knowledge of the arrest said Mr Cienfuegos was taken into custody on a US Drug Enforcement Administration warrant.
One of the people said the warrant was for drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the case publicly.
Former Mexican defence secretary General Salvador Cienfuegos has been arrested on drug trafficking and money laundering charges at Los Angeles International Airport. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
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The DEA declined to comment last night.
Mexico’s Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, wrote on his Twitter account that US Ambassador Christopher Landau had informed him of the retired general’s arrest and that Mr Cienfuegos had a right to receive consular assistance.
A senior Mexican official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to give details of the case, said Mr Cienfuegos was arrested when he arrived at the Los Angeles airport with his family.