Mexico's drug cartel kingpin Arellano Felix extradited to the U.S.

[News_Editor]

Mexico's drug cartel kingpin Arellano Felix extradited to the U.S.

2011-04-30 05:49:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Mexican authorities on Friday extradited the alleged leader of the Tijuana drug cartel, Benjamin Arellano Felix to the United States, prosecutors said.

Arellano Felix, 59, was handed over to U.S. marshals at the Toluca International Airport making effective the extradition order initially issued in May 2007. The former drug kingpin is wanted in California for money laundering, drug trafficking and other offenses.

Benjamin Arellano Felix, along his brothers Eduardo, Javier and Ramon, ran the Tijuana drug cartel for over two decades, starting in 1986. The group controlled drug trafficking in Mexico's northern region, mostly in Baja California State and Tijuana city.

The Arellano Felix cartel managed the trafficking of cocaine, marihuana and other illegal substances in and out of the United States through Mexico's border cities of Tijuana and Mexicali.

Throughout the 90's, the Arellano brothers divided its criminal organization into three divisions. Two were assigned to the transportation and distribution of narcotics, one based in Tijuana and the other in Mexicali.

The third branch of the drug cartel was in charge of securing the organization. This division carried out murders, conducted surveillance patrols and bribed police officers, military servicemen and government officials.

Benjamin Arellano Felix was considered the 'brains' of the organization. He is allegedly responsible for trafficking tons of narcotics into U.S. territory. He was arrested by the Mexican military on March 9, 2002 in Puebla and had been imprisoned at a maximum security prison in Mexico State.

This was the 438th extradition by the Mexican government since President Felipe Calderon took office over four years ago. From this amount, 415 prisoners have been handed over to U.S. authorities.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-30