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Mexico Arrests US-Sanctioned Alleged Fentanyl Trafficker in Joint Operation
Summary
Mexican authorities, in a joint operation with the FBI and DEA, have arrested an alleged drug trafficker accused of financing a fentanyl precursor smuggling network from China.
Mexican authorities have arrested an alleged drug trafficker previously sanctioned by the United States for his role in the fentanyl trade. The arrest, which took place in Mexico City on Tuesday, was part of a joint operation with U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Details of the Operation
Jose Angel Rivera, also known as "Don Flaco," was detained by Mexican authorities in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), according to a statement from Mexico's security minister, Omar Garcia Harfuch.
Rivera is accused of coordinating and financing an organization that transports chemical precursors for fentanyl production. The operation allegedly moved these materials from China to Mexico and the United States. The U.S. State Department had previously sanctioned Rivera in January 2023 for his alleged involvement in fentanyl trafficking.
AdBilateral Cooperation and Context
In a post on the social media platform X, Minister Harfuch highlighted the importance of international collaboration in combating organized crime. "Through international cooperation, shared responsibility, and unrestricted respect for our sovereignty, we are cutting off the flow of money that finances the criminal organizations causing so much harm in Mexico and other countries," he stated.
The arrest underscores ongoing security cooperation between the two nations in their efforts to disrupt the supply chains of synthetic opioids. The development occurred on the same day that U.S. President Donald Trump, in a speech to the United Nations, described Mexico as an epicenter of drug cartel violence and urged the country to increase its efforts to control its territory, as reported by Reuters.
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