What Does it Mean When a Drug trafficker's Hearing is Postponed in the US? Specialist Analyzes the Cases of 'El Ratón' and 'El Mayo'

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

Among the factors that benefit Mexican drug traffickers, age was highlighted.

The postponement of hearings in international drug trafficking cases in the United States—according to UNAM professor and researcher Javier Oliva Posada—is a result of complex negotiation processes between the defense and federal judicial authorities, in which information, cooperation, and economic resources are exchanged in exchange for reduced sentences.

In an interview with Joel Valdez for MILENIO Televisión, the specialist explained that these extensions are mainly requested to strengthen the judicial files and broaden the negotiation margins.

“The objective is at the request of the defense; the decision is made by the federal judicial authority to accumulate evidence, witnesses, testimonies, and documents that will reduce the prison sentence and set bail,” he said.

Specialist explains the case of Ovidio Guzmán and El Mayo

Oliva Posada stressed that these processes involve large sums of money as part of the judicial agreements.

“In the case of Ovidio Guzmán, bail was set at 90 million dollars; there is a consideration in exchange for these substantial sums that are deposited in the federal courts,” he explained.

The academic clarified that the negotiations are not limited to the payment of money, but also include the provision of strategic information, which lowers the possibilities of negotiation for other involved parties, he pointed out.

The fact

When will Ovidio Guzmán's next hearing be?

The intermediate hearing of Ovidio Guzmán López, one of the sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, El Chapo, has been postponed from January 9th to July 10th.

He recalled the cases linked to Ismael El Mayo Zambada: “his son and his brother were sentenced in the United States, and for having cooperated and provided information, today they live in the United States with a new identity; they remain protected witnesses,” he affirmed. From his perspective, this type of agreement creates a profound contradiction for societies affected by criminal violence.

“For those of us who suffer the violence and cruelty of these criminal organizations, it is, at the very least, contradictory,” he said.

Factors that work in favor of the drug lords

The researcher pointed out that this benefit can be extended to other drug lords once they meet the conditions imposed by the U.S. justice system.

"After serving their sentences as cooperating witnesses and paying a hefty fine, they can indeed lead a normal life in the United States," he explained.

Oliva Posada indicated that age and health also influence judicial decisions.

"In the case of elderly individuals with health problems, such as La Tuta or El Mayo Zambada, these factors are taken into account when sentencing," he concluded.

Source: Milenio