Key Takeaways
- The U.S. government has reached a plea deal with Damaso Lopez Serrano, a member of the Sinaloa Cartel, despite designating the cartel as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has questioned the U.S. government’s deal, citing an apparent contradiction with their previous stance on negotiating with ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisations’.
- The Sinaloa Cartel is a Mexican organized crime group that has been designated as a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’ by the United States.
Mexico City: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday questioned the U.S. government for striking plea deals with Damaso Lopez Serrano, a member of a cartel the United States itself has labelled as “Foreign Terrorist Organisation.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum questioned the U.S. government’s deal with Damaso Lopez Serrano, citing an apparent contradiction. She demanded an explanation for the plea deal, which contradicts the U.S. government’s previous stance on negotiating with ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisations’.
“The United States government recently issued a decree calling some organised crime organisations terrorists. They have said on several occasions that they do not negotiate with these organisations,” she said. “They need to explain why agreements are reached in these cases.”
U.S. authorities has reached a plea agreement with Damaso Lopez Serrano, alias “El Mini Lic,” who pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to drug trafficking charges. He is considered a former high-ranking figure within the Sinaloa Cartel, according to Mexican media.
In February, the United States has designated Sinaloa Cartel, along with several other international cartels and transnational organisations, as “Foreign Terrorist Organisations” and “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”
Lopez Serrano was arrested in 2017 on charges of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. He was arrested again last year, pleading guilty to new drug trafficking-related charges.
