Dangerous Drug Trafficker Captured in Mexico City
Law enforcement officials in Mexico recently apprehended a thirty-seven year old Texas man who is suspected of being one of North America’s most powerful drug lords. The United States government had previously offered a $2 million reward for his capture; he is believed to be among the top five drug traffickers in Mexico.
In addition to the drug charges he now faces in Mexico, Edgar Valdez Villarreal, also called “La Barbie” due to his blond hair and blue eyes, is facing charges in the United States for cocaine smuggling; it is alleged that Valdez is responsible for importing thousands of pounds of cocaine into the US. Mexican sources claim that federal police captured Valdez near Mexico City and that he is currently incarcerated at a secure location near the capital.
Valdez began his drug smuggling career in the Sinaloa Cartel, but left when one of the higher-level operators established his own drug trafficking ring. When the leader of the new cartel, Arturo Beltran Leyva, died in a conflict with members of Mexico’s military in late ’09, Valdez was elevated to a top position. Unfortunately for Valdez, the promotion has been disputed by both members of his own cartel and members of rival drug gangs. Hector Levya, the former leader’s brother, fought Valdez for control of the operation. This rivalry evolved into an all-out gang war, with tactics of beheading among the more heinous methods of killing. Valdez is also accused of killing rivals in other cartels, who once challenged his ascension by hanging and torturing members of Valdez’s cartel.
US prosecutors recently indicted Valdez in Atlanta on federal drug trafficking charges for activities that took place between 2004 and 2006. The government attorneys claimed that Valdez smuggled the drugs through Texas before delivering them to drug dealers in Atlanta. Atlanta currently stands as the center of drug trafficking in the south east of the US. Once the drugs were sold, however, the profits were returned to Mexico via the reverse route.
Valdez was born and raised in Laredo, Texas where he was a star football player. La Barbie is represented in the US by Houston criminal defense attorney Kent Schaffer, who indicated that his recent capture was not at all unexpected. Schaffer has expressed concern that Valdez will be tortured by Mexican authorities before he can be extradited back to America for his criminal trial. The lawyer’s concern for his client’s safety is growing, as he is currently unable to locate Valdez. However, US government sources are confident that La Barbie will be returned home unharmed given his notoriety – all eyes will be on Mexican law enforcement authorities and how they handle his incarceration and extradition proceedings.
Although Americans do not typically serve in the higher-level posts of Mexican drug cartels, La Barbie is not the only US citizen who has climbed this unique career ladder. Another Texan, Juan Garcia Abrego, ascended to the head of the Gulf Cartel in the 90’s, but was eventually extradited back to Houston to stand trial for drug smuggling crimes. He was convicted and is currently serving multiple life sentences.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7178804.html
