Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat
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One of Mexico's best-known reputed female drug traffickers, Sandra Ávila Beltrán, called the "Queen of the Pacific," has beendeported from the in El Paso detention center to Mexico City. She arrived in DF 11:59 local time.
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Ávila Beltrán was extradited to the United States and accused of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the years of 1999-2004, but was absolved of all charges except having helped her boyfriend Juan Diego Espinosa Ramirez aka "el Tigre" evade capture.
U.S. federal judge Michael Moore, sentenced Ávila Beltrán, 52, to 70 months of prison. "70 months from 28 September 2007, when she was arrested in Mexico”. Thereby the judge set the stage for her release within days from that sentencing.
Ávila’s delay in deportation detention was due to the new process of deportation initiated in June.Ávila, who caused a stir when information was revealed that she was allowed beauty treatments while incarcerated in Mexico, including Botox treatments, was said to now have gray hair at the crown of her head. Hiar color is not allowed in United States prisons.
Leticia Zamarripa, a spokesperson for ICE in El Paso, did not confirm or deny the transfer and offered no details. DEA officials also said they could not comment for operational reasons. However, she did confirm that Ávila Beltrán has been in ICE's custody since July 30 awaiting deportation proceedings.
Steven Ralls, who spoke with Ávila Beltrán a few days ago, revealed she's "optimistic, positive and in a good mood." "We don't know what's going to happen. All we know is she is going to Mexico and won't be able to return to the U.S." he said.
He said that Jalisco authorities might want to detain his client over money laundering accusations. “If there is a felony warrant against her in Mexico, then she will be handed to proper authorities once she gets to the Mexican border, if not, she can go free”
Proceso reports:
“At her arrival Ávila Beltrán will be turned over to the Attorney General for the Republic by officers of the Federal Ministerial Police since she has an arrest warrant issued by a Judge of the first district of Jalisco”
El Universal reports she was given to the authority of the PGR for processing upon her arrival.
Ávila is the niece of Mexican drug trafficker Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo.
As for her future plans, her attorney stated “once she is back in Mexico, she plans on living a low key family life”. However it looks as those plans will be on the back burner for a while at least.
