Man in charge of Sinaloa Cartel warehouses in Juarez extradited to El Paso
Arturo Lozano-Mendez, an alleged high-ranking member of the Sinaloa Cartel, made his initial appearance in El Paso’s federal courthouse following his extradition from Mexico to the United States Thursday afternoon.
The 47-year-old Lozano – aka “El Garza” — is one of two dozen alleged high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel leaders, including Joaquin Guzman Loera aka “El Chapo” and Ismael Zambada Garcia aka “Mayo”, indicted in April 2012 on federal racketeering charges in the Western District of Texas. A federal indictment states Lozano was in charge of Sinaloa Cartel warehouses in Juarez.
“The extradition of Arturo Lozano-Mendez shows that Mexico’s continued cooperation in targeting significant drug traffickers is critical to our mutual efforts to protect the public from the negative impact of the drug trade,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Kyle Williamson. “DEA will continue to vigorously pursue drug traffickers and corrupt public officials who threaten the safety of our local communities and U.S. national security and continue to bring alleged cartel leaders to justice – on both sides of the border.”
Earlier Friday, Sinaloa cartel drug lord Damaso Lopez was extradited from Ciudad Juarez to the United States, Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office said. It is unclear if Lopez is being held in El Paso.
Lozano is charged with one count of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (RICO conspiracy), one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to import into the United States five kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
20 defendants, including Lozano, remain under indictment in this case. Trial is scheduled for November 2018. Upon conviction, Lozano faces up to life in federal prison.
Investigators said this investigation resulted in the seizure of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, thousands of pounds of marijuana in cities throughout the United States. Law enforcement also took possession of millions of dollars in drug proceeds which were destined to be returned to the Cartel in Mexico.
Agents also seized hundreds of weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition intended to be smuggled into Mexico to assist the Cartel’s battle to take control of Juarez and the local drug trafficking corridors.
