Mexico celebrates ex-defense chief once arrested at LAX on suspicion of drug smuggling
MEXICO CITY — A former Mexican defense secretary whose arrest in the U.S. in 2020 on suspicion of drug smuggling strained relations between the two countries was celebrated Wednesday with an honorary military decoration.
In October 2020, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport and accused of ties to an international drug trafficking ring. But the U.S. dropped charges against him a month later under intense pressure from Mexico.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented Cienfuegos, who was head of Mexico’s army from 2012-18, with the honorary award at a ceremony celebrating the bicentennial of the Heroic Military Academy, which Cienfuegos used to direct.
Almost three years ago to the day, Cienfuegos was arrested at a Los Angeles airport, accused of participating in an international drug-trafficking and money-laundering network. The U.S. later dropped its charges against him, ostensibly as a diplomatic concession, and he was returned to Mexico for further investigation.
Conjunto Nacional México, the rhythmic gymnastics team from Mexico, was preparing in Israel for the Pan American Games when Hamas attacked.
Mexico’s attorney general’s office, however, released Cienfuegos after it found no evidence of his alleged drug-trafficking links. Following the release, López Obrador accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating its charges against Cienfuegos.
“Why did they do the investigation like that?” López Obrador said at the time. “Without support, without proof?”
At the ceremony Wednesday, Cienfuegos was recognized for strengthening the military academy during his time directing it. Another former army chief was also given an award.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of military academies from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia, as well as other South American and Asian countries.
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