On Friday, August 30, 2024, one of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords, Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, was released from a U.S. prison. The former leader of the Gulf Cartel, Cárdenas is known for his role in creating one of the most violent criminal organizations in Mexico’s history. After his release, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody, sparking questions about his future.
Osiel Cárdenas Guillén rose to power in the late 1990s as the head of the Gulf Cartel, a major drug trafficking organization in Mexico. During his reign, Cárdenas transformed the cartel into a terrifying force by forming an armed wing known as Los Zetas. This group was made up of former elite military personnel, who were highly trained and extremely brutal. The Zetas quickly became notorious for their extreme violence, including tactics such as decapitations and mass killings.
In 2003, Cárdenas was captured by Mexican authorities after a fierce gun battle in the city of Matamoros, located in the state of Tamaulipas, near the U.S. border. His arrest was a significant victory for the Mexican government in its fight against organized crime. However, the violence did not end there. In 2007, Cárdenas was extradited to the United States, where he faced charges related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes. Three years later, in 2010, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Despite his imprisonment, the influence of Cárdenas and the Gulf Cartel continued to be felt in Mexico. Los Zetas eventually split from the Gulf Cartel, becoming a separate criminal organization that terrorized large parts of the country. At the peak of their power, Los Zetas were considered one of the most dangerous and deadly criminal groups in Mexico, responsible for countless acts of violence, including extortion, kidnapping, and murder. Although the group has since weakened, its legacy of brutality remains.
The release of Osiel Cárdenas has reignited concerns about the impact of his return to Mexico. According to ICE, Cárdenas was taken into custody immediately after his release from the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers are currently holding him while they decide on his deportation status. It is unclear whether he will be sent back to Mexico or remain in the United States for further legal proceedings.
A spokesperson for ICE confirmed that Cárdenas “remains in ICE custody pending a final disposition determination.” This decision is crucial, as Cárdenas still faces outstanding charges in Mexico. According to a source within the Mexican government, Cárdenas is being held in a U.S. migration detention center while discussions continue regarding his potential extradition.
U.S. news network NBC, citing an anonymous U.S. official, reported that the Biden administration is planning to hand Cárdenas over to Mexican authorities on Monday, September 2, 2024. If this transfer occurs, it will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the saga of one of Mexico’s most feared drug lords.
Leo Silva, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who worked in Mexico, shared his thoughts on Cárdenas’s influence. Silva, who served with the DEA from 2008 to 2015, directly encountered the aftermath of Cárdenas’s actions. He blamed Cárdenas for the rise in extreme violence that has plagued Mexico over the past two decades. Silva explained that the formation of Los Zetas changed the landscape of organized crime in Mexico, shifting the focus from drug trafficking alone to a broader range of criminal activities, including extortion and kidnapping.
As Mexico and the United States await the final decision on Osiel Cárdenas’s fate, the fear of what his return might mean for the country lingers. His release marks a significant moment in the ongoing battle against organized crime, and many are watching closely to see what happens next.
