Former Defense Secretary of Mexico, Salvador Cienfuegos, arrested in LAX Airport

Mexico’s former defense minister, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, was arrested Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport on a warrant from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Foreign Minister of Mexico, Marcelo Ebrard, reported Thursday night that the former Defense Secretary, Salvador Cienfuegos, was arrested in  Los Angeles airport.

It should be noted that General Cienfuegos was Mexico’s Defense Secretary (SEDENA) during the government of Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018).

Cienfuegos Zepeda’s detention comes less than a year after the US arrest of Mexico’s former public security secretary, Genaro Garcia Luna, who held the post from 2006 to 2012.

Ebrard said he was informed of the capture through the US ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau,  and the arrest occurred at the Los Angeles Airport, California.

Cienfuegos Zepeda was Mexico’s defense minister from 2012 to 2018. He served under President Enrique Peña Nieto, who left office two years ago.

He sido informado por el Embajador Christopher Landau de los Estados Unidos que el ex Secretario de la Defensa Nacional, Gral. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, ha sido detenido en el Aeropuerto de Los Angeles, California.

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) October 16, 2020

According to US media, Cienfuegos was detained by US authorities when he arrived in that country late in the afternoon on a trip with his family.

@propublica has learned that former Mexican Defense Minister Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda was arrested by U.S. authorities when he arrived in the country late this afternoon on a trip with his family.

— Ginger Thompson (@gingerthomp1) October 16, 2020

On Friday, Marcelo Ebrard Twittered that the former Secretary of Defense, Cienfuegos, is being transported to New York, and his lawyer from Mexico will arrive within hours. “The charges are related to five narco tracking charges.” Ebrard says.

Desde Los Angeles la Cónsul , Marcela Celorio, reporta : la audiencia será a las 14:30 (16:30 hora de CDMX) se estima será trasladado el Gral Cienfuegos a Nueva York, su abogado llega en unas horas desde México, son 5 cargos relativos a narcotráfico los que se le imputan.

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) October 16, 2020

“This is very regrettable that a former secretary of defense was detained, accused of links to narcotrafficking.Corruption is Mexico’s main problem,” he said. “This is an unmistakable example of the decomposition of the former regime.” López Obrador said at a news conference on Friday morning.

López Obrador said he has full confidence in his current defense and navy chiefs, who he said he chose them because their files stated they are “incorruptible.”

Sources: The Hill, CNN