Borderland Beat translated and republished from Reforma
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From 2012 to date, 10 of the top leaders of drug trafficking in Mexico were arrested or killed, but another dozen dealers in the same time period were released. The administration of President Enrique Peña has captured legends criminal cartels of Sinaloa and Juárez and organizations Beltran Leyva and the Knights Templar.
Among these are Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman; Miguel Treviño Morales, "Z-40"; Hector Beltran Leyva, "El H"; Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, "The Viceroy" and Nazario Moreno González, "El Chayo".
In that same that same period, 10 high-profile drug traffickers were released from prison, most released quietly and after a short sentence. Only one of these traffickers who was released from prison, was rearrested and is back behind bars. The other nine are free, some of which are untraceable.
In some of these cases, the federal court concluded that the guarantees of due process of the accused was neglected, or ; the detainee was a protected witnesses, that the accusations endured proved fallacious and some captures derived from warrantless searches.
The most emblematic case is that of Rafael Caro Quintero, who on August 9, 2013, after serving in prison for more than 28 years, a court ruled that he should have been tried in the local jurisdiction rather than in the federal. He was ordered released, without notification to the United States, where he was wanted. This ruling was revoked and today, once again is haunted.
The Sinaloa capo Jesus Albino Quintero, "Don Beto" who reconciled the interests of cartels of Sinaloa and Gulf, was released last June 12th after being convicted by a federal court in Mexico City and sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.
Another high profile drug dealer who also left the jail is Carlos Alberto Rosales Mendoza, "El Tísico", who had influence in Guerrero and Michoacán until 2004, when he was arrested. Rosales, who led Los Zetas in Michoacán for more than a decade, was boss of the leader Nazario Moreno, founder of La Familia Michoacana and Los Caballeros Templar, Rosales left the federal prison Matamoros last May 22.
For Albino Quintero and Carlos Rosales soon could be prosecuted again, because the PGR appealed their sentences and unit courts could modify them. Something similar happened with Martin Alejandro Beltran Coronel "El Aguila "jefe for the Sinaloa cartel in Jalisco, following the death of his uncle Ignacio" Nacho "Coronel. He was acquitted and released on September 24 for failure of due process and inconsistencies in witness protection.
The PGR challenged the exemption to a unitary court . The lot is very different for Ricardo García Urquiza, "El Doctor”, commander for the Juarez Cartel, released Jan. 17; Roberto Beltrán Burgos, exonerated on May, 16thwho was a leader for the Sinaloa Cartel, and Rogelio González Pizaña "El Kelin", Operator of the Gulf Cartel released on August 30th .
Garcia Urquiza and Gonzalez Pizaña was awarded a higher court ratification that greatly reduced the sentence, which they had already fulfilled. Meanwhile with Beltran an unitary court confirmed his innocence by finding he was not involved with trafficking.
José Gil Caro Quintero "Jogil", nephew Rafael Caro Quintero was arrested in 2004, also released after serving 10 years with 5 months in prison. Although they did not elaborate, some sources consulted said that he was arrested and again today is confined to the Criminal Puente Grande, Jalisco.
In 2013, in addition to Caro Quintero, Arturo Hernández González "El Chaki," also was released from prison, one of the bloodiest operators of the Juarez Cartel, who in April completed their sentences to 10 years in prison for laundering money.
Another bad guy that left prison is Adán Medrano Rodríguez "El Licenciado", who at the time considered one of the main operators of the Gulf Cartel.
Leaders and commanders released and on the streets:
Adán Javier Medrano, Cártel del Golfo
Rafael Caro Quintero, prominent and historical narco leader
Arturo "Chaki" Hernández, Cártel de Juárez
Ricardo García Urquiza, Cártel de Juárez
José Gil Caro Quintero, Cártel de Sinaloa, the only one recaptured
Roberto Beltrán Burgos, "El Doctor", Cártel de Sinaloa
Carlos Alberto Rosales, Maximum leader Zetas in Guerrero and Michoacán
Rogelio González Pizaña, Cártel del Golfo
Martín Alejandro Beltrán Coronel, Cártel de Sinaloa
Jesús Albino Quintero, Sinaloa and del Golfo
Rafael Caro Quintero, prominent and historical narco leader
Arturo "Chaki" Hernández, Cártel de Juárez
Ricardo García Urquiza, Cártel de Juárez
José Gil Caro Quintero, Cártel de Sinaloa, the only one recaptured
Roberto Beltrán Burgos, "El Doctor", Cártel de Sinaloa
Carlos Alberto Rosales, Maximum leader Zetas in Guerrero and Michoacán
Rogelio González Pizaña, Cártel del Golfo
Martín Alejandro Beltrán Coronel, Cártel de Sinaloa
Jesús Albino Quintero, Sinaloa and del Golfo