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Monday, August 19, 2013

Eduardo Arellano Félix, El Doctor, Sentenced to 15 years in Prison

Borderland Beat
After reaching an agreement with U.S. authorities to plead guilty to charges of money laundering, conspiracy to use illegal profits of organized crime in May, Eduardo Arellano Félix, El Doctor, was sentenced today in Federal Court in San Diego to 15 years in prison.

With the sentencing in U.S. District Court in San Diego, Arellano Felix, 56, became the last of four brothers killed or sent to prison in connection with the Arellano Felix drug trafficking ring, federal prosecutors said.
"The three living Arellano Felix brothers, who for decades lived as multi-millionaires while terrorizing the Southwest border, ordering assassinations and corrupting countless public officials are now confined to maximum security prison cells for a very long time. I urge others who aspire to take their place to take note," U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said.

Arellano Felix had faced a maximum of 140 years if convicted of the charges brought against him in the original indictment that included racketeering and conspiracy to distribute and import marijuana and cocaine to the United States, although federal sentencing guidelines typically allow for less time. The indictment described him as a senior adviser to his brother Benjamin.

"The sentence that Eduardo Arellano Felix received today marks the end of an era in cartel history. The AFO is finished, others have moved in and are attempting to take their place," William Sherman, special agent in charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego, said in a statement.



The Arellano Felix organization controlled the drug trade from its base in Tijuana, south of San Diego, between 1986 and 2002. At the height of its power in the 1990s, the cartel smuggled hundreds of millions of dollars in narcotics through a 100-mile-wide corridor stretching from Tijuana to Mexicali, south of Calexico, California.


The brothers gained an added measure of notoriety when the Tijuana cartel and its battle with the rival Juarez cartel were dramatized in the 2000 film "Traffic," which earned four Oscars.


Benjamin Arellano Felix, described by U.S. and Mexican authorities as the cartel's mastermind, was sentenced to 25 years in U.S. prison last year after being extradited from Mexico, where he was arrested in 2002. Ramon Arellano Felix, the cartel's top enforcer, was killed in a shootout with Mexican authorities in 2002.

Eduardo Arellano Félix, long considered the financial brains was presented to the court to hear his sentence,wearing the orange uniform used by prisoners and greeted smiling at his attorney Bryan Funk.

Earlier, the lawyer made a couple of requests to Judge Larry Burns that his client is not associated with the name of his brother Ramón, since some documents identified him as "Eduardo Ramon." He even claimed that he has the birth certificate to verify the name of his client.

The other request is that they include the title of doctor as it is his course of study as well as his nickname. During the hearing, Eduardo Arellano accepted his guilt, as he had agreed to and asked the judge to be moved to the same prison in Florida as his brother Benjamin, so they can serve out their sentences. He said, "I want to respect the deal I signed. I will fulfill my time and I want to ask that you send me to be with my brother Benjamin." 

However, the request will have to be evaluated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. his lawyer, Bryan Funk  explained  the situation in an interview at the end of the hearing.
Before sentencing, Judge Larry Burns said he was aware that the role of Eduardo Arellano was lower in the criminal organization, but that does not diminish the responsibility to operate in a criminal group that "caused negative effects" on society."So you should be ashamed. I said the same thing to your brother when I dictated his sentence," said the judge.Judge Burns added that once El Doctor, serves his sentence, he will be deported to Mexico .He asked once his sentence is complete and after his eventual deportation that he "not return" to the United States  and warned about the consequences of  participating again in organized crime activities, but said, "you'll pay dearly for that."

Bryan Funk expressed satisfaction with the sentence and stressed his client's  greatest desire is to be with his brother Benjamin."He has not seen his brother in 20 years, wants to be with his family during the time in which he serves his sentence," 

His statement included that Eduardo Arellano Félix pleaded guilty in May, after reaching an agreement with the U.S. authorities. For the DEA in San Diego, this action was seen as "the final nail in the coffin" of the Arellano Felix cartel, since El Doctor was the last of his brothers to be tried. Eduardo Arellano was arrested in October 2008 in Tijuana and extradited to the United States on August 31 last year. 

On August 24, 2006, Francisco Javier, El Tigrillo, was caught at sea off coast of Baja California Sur and sentenced to life imprisonment by  a court in San Diego on November 6, 2007.The eldest brother, Francisco Rafael, was extradited to San Diego in September 2006 after spending 10 years in a prison in Mexico. He was the first major Mexican drug lord to be extradited to the United States.Ramon-included in the list of "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" (The ten most wanted criminals) by the FBI, was killed in Sinaloa during a clash with federal forces on September 18, 1997.

Benjamin Arellano Felix benefited in January 2012 from the protection of the authorities in the United States.Fifteen years after being named as one of the most wanted criminals in the country, the Federal Court of the Southern District of California agreed  to reduce his sentence to just 25 years in exchange for three conditions:

1) accept that  he  was the leader of the Tijuana cartel and that he committed crimes of conspiracy and money laundering. The remaining offenses were eliminated;

2) transfer to U.S. government property, assets, accounts, financial instruments and various products amounting to 100 million dollars, and

3) cooperate unconditionally with the U.S. authorities in investigation and incrimination of other members of organized crime to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted in the future.

With this, the boss of one of the most powerful and bloody cartels in the last 25 years avoided a longer sentence, which could have been 40 to 140 years, thanks to which  he could potentially come out of prison when he is 83. When his term expires, in 2037, Benjamin Arellano will have to be repatriated to Mexico, where they reactivated the proceedings still pending, as in the case file/ arrest warrant against  him for the murder of Cardinal  Juan Jesús Posadas y Ocampo that  occurred in May 1993 at the Guadalajara airport. 

Sources:  ProcesoReuters

76 comments:

  1. 15 fucking years? i know a guy who had 2 ounces of powder ran from the cops on foot and because he had a prior dwi and a prior domestic arrest is now serving a 20 year sentence.

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    1. I'm glad that guy is doing 20 yrs,rather than Eduardo AF,don't you rhink.Think about it.

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    2. Yea but I bet ur buddy didnt give up name of cartel leading and sensitive cartel information.

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    3. Yea i bet ur buddy doesnt have millions to spend on lawyers in shitt....thats why he got 15yrs

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    4. 15 years sucks ass! Maximum security! I rather die...

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    5. 15 yrs federal time.... Federal is like a country club compared to regular prison.

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  2. U have to change the font color,its impossible to read,literally

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  3. Los aretes r still strong in tijuana

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  4. Tan tan. The brothers are finished. But they left a legacy in Tijuana. No doubt.

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  5. So he will be 71 years old and probably shitting his pants eating oatmeal and drinking ensure.

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  6. Yes change the font color, just read a few lines....

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  7. How long will he be able to survive the super max in the mountains. Will he be able to exert his power . I say get em younger and make them stay longer . LOL
    I think this will be a good finnish to this dirts life .

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  8. Legacy in Tijuana of course. Too bad Fernando Sanchez couldn't keep full control of Tijuana. Now that the cartel Del golfo leader got capture it seems that chapo guzman is taking all the border towns . but don't forget the Beltran leyvas they are nightmare to Guzman will see how this year ends.

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    1. Ah shit,we have a fantasy cartel player here.idiot

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    2. the beltran leyvas FUCKED UP!chalk turned out to be a bigger nightmare,maybe the blo are now cooperating,which was the thing to do in the first place,but jackasses and dogs are hard to tame usually

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  9. If you can not read then copy and past to an E-mail or word document that has a white background. You can delete the document after reading.

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  10. He will do half the time and keep the shit going his brother paid for it all 100 million dollars "THE US GOVERNMENT IS NOT CORRUPT" please motherfuckers

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    1. @11:15 p.m he will do most or all of his time.feds have no parole system to speak of!

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  11. Afo is still in charge of tijuas the kids run the show

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  12. Unable to read this...

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  13. Ok. U take One down, another steps up to the plate.. Simple as that!

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  14. What is the stain on his forehead?

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  15. Facing 140 years and gets 15? Must've had something up his sleeve or gave up some good info to win those odds. Means he'll be out in 10-12 if he behaves.

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  16. SENTENCE REDUCTION FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR in federal prison is a little complicated but is only 42-47 days because of the "prison math" used

    read here:

    http://www.famm.org/Repository/Files/FINAL_Good_Time_FAQs_10.21.08%5B1%5D.pdf

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  17. Become a big fish, give up the Rolodex and get back to the casa A.S.A.P. Forget the deaths and turmoil you have caused. The Feds take the casa and as long as you hid a casita 'por alli', them you are set. Sure there are years to serve but, why have a hundred year sentance available and give such a small sentence to a guy whose whole arm was caught in the cookie jar? Mexico might have an early release plan for this chump. I would gladly pay a buck or two in higher taxes if we could put these killers away for the time that they deserve. Think of the innocent victims.

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  18. He looks like shit...all sallow skinned he gots diabetes or all them traes snorting his pendejo supply..

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  19. Good morning Chivis- First let me offer my congrats.for your outstanding reporting! I've spent 2 hours catching up. Wow. I pray there is a book in your future,be it on the history of the war on drugs in Mexico or even a compulation of interviews,re: El Tutu("Thank you young lady.") As for El Doctor, as I've stated before.... If I got convicted of money laundering,this El Doctor would never see a day of freedom again! Saw the writing on the wall and knew 15 would be max. Unless he gave up everyone left on the MOST WANTED 37 LIST, this murdering monster should have gotten life. It makes me sick. Another day of "LET'S MAKE A DEAL!". Got to go do my job. Thanks again Chivis and BB. Peace,Texas Grandma.

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  20. Old school has-been. Nostalgia sentencing for a by-gone era. He's the Whitey Bulger of the narco world. It's a different game these days. Today's narcos have evolved well beyond what was a horror movie 20 years ago.

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  21. A 15 year sentence? Cut that in half. Run a cartel, get extradited, and do less than 10. Way to show those leaders we mean business! What was the reward to turn this guy in? Not worth it. Typical prosecutors saying that it was a win. Pathetic.

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    1. Why don't people fuckin understand........ Federal Time is STRAIGHT!!!!!! No "do 1/2 of the time" or "knock a year off" for good behavior. Know what the Fuck ur talking about before u say anything.....

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  22. Why would a judge consider putting him with his brother benjamin-seriously why do that guy a favor? He has contributed nothing positive- only pain and death. C ya loser!

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  23. U cant read the story cause the letters are black.

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  24. Really 15 years? Shit this light sentence makes me want to change careers. If I can make a 30 year stint with a cartel, get caught and convicted to the super max to 15 years at the age of 50, I will be on time for my 50 year high school reunion with bragging rights. Then walk away into retirement like ol Rafa CQ.

    All kidding aside, they need tougher laws to curb people wanting to step up.

    How is the AFO done? Isn't the nephew in charge?

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  25. Hey chivis reina del pacifico reported to be back in mex. Check proceso magazine

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  26. You know I have to say this. Seeing a post from Havana makes me smile for the simple reason she made everyone laugh so often in the forum. I've said it before-"come back to the forum where you are appreciated." Your biggest fan is Chivis but you know that! Chivis knows all and how to pick 'em. Now get off your ass and post more and interact with your peeps like you did in the forum.

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  27. you made me laugh, I am annoying for posting info on sentencing and good behavior...ok..time to move on little girl.

    Thanks Tex GMA..for the kind words, this post is all Havana however....BUT look for an upcoming joint project between the two of us, much like the Treviño Trial....happy-happy-happy

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    1. a joint?medicinal?will it be Colombia red,Acapulco gold,sinsemilla,hydro...laced with paraquat... what else is there?I'm sorry i don't know what the options are there,somebodyi please illustrate me

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  28. Wish we could be assured they wouldn't be giving directives from the inside. They may be safer inside than out.

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  29. Wish I could see tuta in that kind of prison attire! He looks like a smurf in the last video he made! Ha ha ha ha!!! The Arellano Félix are closed to finished with the sentencing of el doctor to 15yrs. It pays to have good payed lawyers to help a defendant receive light sentences. That and the paying of large amounts of money in fines to the DOJ. You know the judges, attorney generals, prosecutors, and fed. agents. are ready to line their pockets with the fine money. Goes to show you - crime does pay - the salaries of law enforcement, judges, lawyers, prosecutors, das!

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  30. Letters are black then they shift to a white background! So, just weight a bit! I mean espera un momento - more like wait a minute and it'll adjust

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  31. It's readable on the PC and android phones, but not visible on iphones. Shake your iphone about 7 times left to right and the text will appear. You may have to repeat process 2-3 times before it appears. If not blow air with mouth at battery port.

    El Gato de Cypress TX

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    1. What a cheap assiphone and I got mine for 39.99 at metro pcs and I could read and see videos all the time its a zte 4g phone.50 bucks a mouths

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    2. @ 6:20
      I tried it, it didn't work.

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    3. keep trying till you fart,that's info-tech science,if it still won't work at least you should be a millionaire by then

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  32. Interesting sentence. He'll be old as dirt when and if he gets deported. Then Mexico will try & sentence him for the murders where he can die in prison there.

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  33. From the ashes will rise again the AFO... and quash that lil midget hiding in the mountains.

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  34. Laura Duffy and her "skirt wearing" attorneys fucked us all! Holder, please get rid of this heartless bitch!!

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  35. As far as I can see Mexican and American justice still missed a few members here like say Fernando Sánchez Arellano “El Ingeniero”, Manuel Aguirre Galindo “El Caballo”, and Manuel Núñez López “Don Balas” and of course they'll have to round up the women - especially Enedina, old Alicia, and their connections. After they are captured, handed out severe sentences, then maybe they can declare AFO finished and not look like premature revelers celebrating a job feebly half-done.

    Between Mexican and American justice, I don't think they should be too proud of El Doctor's light sentence not to mention releasing Caro and La Reina even if her wrists are re-slapped in Mexico-she won't be jailed.

    The judge told Eduardo Arellano Félix that he should be ashamed of his life in trafficking drugs. Well, I think the judge should be equally ashamed of making a joke of the American justice system and he should do a better job giving appropriate sentences starting now!

    All these factors may make judge Sam Sparks hand out a stiffer sentence than we might expect to Jose Treviño Morales in the upcoming money laundering verdict in Austin. We'll see.

    I appreciate all the comments and sorry for the difficulty reading the copy on some mobile phones. That one is bigger than me.

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  36. "15 fucking years? i know a guy who had 2 ounces of powder ran from the cops on foot,now serving a 20 year sentence."

    Its all about money and the attorneys etc you can pay for and its the same in every developed country.When each individual country pompously says"we have the best judicial system in the world"we all know its bullshit.Justice is on a sliding scale according to the amount of money you can pay,the more money=the more justice.

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    1. and wait and see,z40(la tetanic) little light sentence,to be served at home,after the appeals the state will end up paying him money,Mexican judges do as the boss epn says,all the way up to the supreme court,which is not legal,but is the law.they already started,by accusing his ass only of money laundering and weapons possession, messican judiciary seems to subscribe to the idea that you don't touch the big boys because they are somebody's pet,somebody very big,Barbie?

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  37. "What a cheap ass iphone and I got mine for 39.99 at metro pcs"
    I thought iphone could wipe your ass for you too?Well we still got itunes to pay more and fuck it up.

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  38. Why was he kown as "The Doctor" ?

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    1. Cause that's what he studied and got a degree

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    2. Thanks for the info.

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    3. a real doctor should be able to find his ass,with both hands of course.when you buy your degree it is very hard to even see what the job is in the first place,then you get lost in the sea of your own ignorance and end up in the joint in a sea of alligators...no,not that kind of alligators

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  39. i guess chapo is gonna get ten years then, money talks EVERYWHERE

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    1. chapo did his time,time served,thank you.

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  40. You do 85 percent of your time in feds.Also,it's not as good as some think the food is horrible and not much of it. It's also very over crowed.

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  41. @11:25

    He is known as "el doctor" because he is a surgeon. Received his degree from la universidad autonoma de Guadalajara.

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    1. Very well educated narco bastard.

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    2. in Mexico you can buy you degree,specially if you are not going to practice,because you've got better things to do,like...drug trafficking.so this puts the arellano family in the shit like 40years ago?

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    3. was El doctor FEG or FER in guadalajara?

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  42. AFO is finished get rid of the little punk inge and whos left all the aunts its time for everyone to retire with all the money they've made and live the good life stop being greedy its only going to get you caught I say before its taken sell that corridor or plaza and get all the millions you can . Only if it were that simple right . Maybe. AFO is done its only a matter of time watch.

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    1. El CAF is deep rooted in the mafia-narco business in the Baja territory for over 25+ years El Cartel is not going to be demolished over night after almost 3 decades of operating as a multi-national corporation with low key associates scattered all over the Americas.
      If you have the heart, go to any high scale bar or even the Casino in el Hipodromo and make your words be heard that Fernando is a punk and about the senoras "aunts".. But do it.

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  43. Hey Havanita- your friend the judge, I just read, is letting El Doctor be moved to the Florida jail to be near his brother Benjamin. Now, ain't that accomodating for such a fine upstanding, Mexican citizen? Just thought that might burn your butt a little! Jaj! Ni modo...

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    1. the Colombia queen of cocaine went from Florida to California for a while,did she connect with somebody there? and now the arellanos going to Florida?is there somping there?just wondering

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  44. Why bother with the cost of the trial if you can't do better than 15 years. Pathetic

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  45. He might not get time reduced fir good behavior n those mamadas...BUT, they are deducting time already served...Mmm ...quick math: arrested Oct. 26th 2008....not too bad for a few millions, eh? cuz freedom is priceles vs. The value the petro dollar ?? .. Twas a Very cheap deal in the end...can't afford not to!!! haha .'ahora la bebes o la derramas' !!!

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  46. Arellanos cartel is finished !

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  47. EL CHAPO Y LA GENTE NUEVA CORRE "TODO" EL NEGOCIO AHORA Y SIEMPRE!!! AND NOT THE "CIA" NOR THE "US GOVERMENT" WILL DO ANYTHING TO STOP EL CHAPO!! WANNA KNO WHY??.... CUZ CHAPO GAVE THEM A "BITE OF THE APPLE"!! THEY ARE ALL CURRUPT ESPECIALLY NOW ADAYS HOW THE US ECONOMY IS ALL FUKED UP ANYBODY CAN BUY ANYBODY WITH JUST THE RITE AMOUNT OF MONEY!!! AND WE ALLL KNO EL CHAPO HAS IT ALLL!!! SO HECHELE CHINGAZOZ A ESTOS GUEROS CULOS MI CHAPITO!!!!!

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  48. American justice is as corrupt as the Mexican government.
    So as long as you provide information that that are useful to them then you must not fear severe prison sentences and oh lets not forget so as long as you forfeit any assests!!
    All governments benefit from the drug trade especially the US.
    Castro may be the animal many claim but why isn't Cuba a major hub for Colombian coke? Like lets say DR, Hati, Bahamas and even the American territory PR?
    Its because unlike the US government Cuba has no intrest in any financial gain from drug trafficking!!!
    Any drug trafficker knows better than to set foot on Cuban soil for the purposes of drug trafficking. ..
    Where and for that matter why would anyone fund the DEA, and and the biggest hoax of all time the " war on drugs"
    Without the unfortunate who have chosen to use and or sell drugs behind bars, on parole or probation or under some form of investigation then over half of the lawyers, judges, prosecutors, correctional officers and law enforcers would be out of a job and with most of the industrial companies shifting their companies to asia most of those imcompetent police officers would be shining the boots of a hard working Mexican with a back breaking job..

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  49. The US is as corrupt as the mexican government is!
    Drugs are like any commodity big business.
    The US government has no reason to end the supply of drugs that enter this country and with great reason.
    Just think with out those unfortunate to use and or sell drugs not behind bars, supervision or under investigation then a GREAT DEAL of incompetent law enforcenent and correctional officers would be out of a job and with so many industrial companies moving overseas then most of them would likely end up shining shoes for a hard working mexican with a back breaking job!!
    If this country were ever interested in winning the so called war on drugs then they would follow in the foot steps of Castro. . Anyone ever wondered why an impoverished country like Cuba dies not have a serious issue when it comes ti drug trafficking or even drug abuse as those surrounding countries as DR, Jamaica, Hati, Bahamas and the of course the US?
    Its obvious. Obviously Cuba has no interest in any financial gain from allowing drugs to flow through its country.
    I honestly do not believe its a moral issue either I just believe that with its political beliefs and the powers to be against them it can not give anyone the reason to taint their image as a drug trafficking state because an invasion would be inevitable. Think Panama.
    So why can't the US curb drug trafficking as Cuba has been able to do although they lack in technology and money to combat the importion of drugs?
    If The Us were to spend half of their "war on drugs"budget on the drug abuse prevention then they would put a much bigger dent on drug ttrafficking because there would not be enough of a demand to for drug dealing to be worth pursuing! !!

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