The Biden administration has initiated the release of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, a high-profile Mexican cartel leader, from a U.S. federal prison, with plans to extradite him to Mexico, according to a U.S. official. Guillén, notorious for founding one of Mexico’s most ruthless criminal organizations, was freed from federal custody and transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last Friday.
🚨🇺🇸🇲🇽NOTORIOUS MEXICAN DRUG LORD RELEASED FROM U.S. PRISON
Osiel Cárdenas, one of Mexico’s most infamous drug lords and former leader of the Gulf Cartel, was released from a U.S. prison into ICE custody on Friday.
Known for ushering in a new era of hyper-violent tactics in… pic.twitter.com/FC1N3iRt8g
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 30, 2024
Guillén, who led the infamous Gulf Cartel and later established the Zetas—a notorious offshoot comprised of former military personnel—was known for brutal acts of violence including torture and beheadings. His criminal activities spanned threatening U.S. federal agents to overseeing a large-scale drug trafficking operation. Initially sentenced in 2010 to 25 years without parole, his early release comes after serving just over half of his sentence.
ICE has taken custody of Guillén, who now awaits a final decision on his disposition. According to sources, the Biden administration plans to deport him to Mexico on Monday, where he faces additional criminal charges. This move has prompted discussions but no immediate comments from the Justice Department or the White House regarding the reasons for his extradition.
One of the most powerful & influential drug traffickers in the history of Mexico has been released from US federal prison after 25 years. Gulf Cartel leader Oziel Cardenas is FREE. Cardenas essentially created the hyper paramilitary group Los Zetas to protect him in the 90’s pic.twitter.com/d0WsV7d3DN
— Jeff Nadu (@JeffNadu) August 30, 2024
Guillén’s criminal record in the U.S. includes a broad range of felonies from drug trafficking to money laundering and direct threats to murder law enforcement officers. His reign over the Gulf Cartel lasted from 1997 until his capture in 2003, after which the Zetas evolved into a formidable force in the drug war, known for their severe tactics and expansion under his leadership.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons has confirmed the transfer of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén to U.S. Immigration authorities. Originally sentenced to 25 years for his leadership in the Gulf Cartel, Cárdenas’s release date was set for August 30, 2024, after reductions for time served… pic.twitter.com/N2OONRBiAY
— Top Rank Capital (@toprankcapital) August 30, 2024
Major Points:
- The Biden administration has released Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, a notorious Mexican cartel leader, from U.S. federal prison, planning to extradite him to Mexico.
- Guillén, founder of the violent Gulf Cartel and the Zetas gang, was known for brutal acts including torture and beheadings.
- After serving 14 years of a 25-year sentence, he was transferred from the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, Indiana, to ICE custody.
- His criminal activities in the U.S. included drug trafficking, money laundering, and threats to kill U.S. law enforcement officers.
- Guillén’s extradition reflects ongoing U.S.-Mexico efforts to address cross-border crime involving high-profile criminal figures.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
