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Cocaine, Terrorism And Corruption
Gen. Alfonso Duarte Mugica is commander of Mexico's Second Military Region
Mexico’s Secretariat of Defense confirmed the detention of 13 soldiers accused of transporting more than a ton of drugs. The statement, issued from Mexico City, follows news reports in Baja California that soldiers had been detained with drugs in their backpacks as they traveled in convoy from Mexico City to Tijuana.
The statement said that three junior officers and ten enlistees, after being arrested with 928 kilos of crystal meth and 30 kilos of cocaine, have been charged with drug trafficking and organized crime.
On Thursday morning, a military general confirmed that a group involving both civilians and soldiers had been disbanded in Tijuana as a result of military intelligence.
“What I know is that there was a long-term operation carried out with considerable success,” said Gen. Alfonso Duarte Mugica, commander of Mexico’s Second Military Region, which includes the Baja California peninsula and part of Sonora.
"They're traitors"
With regards to the sentencing military troops can receive for working for organized crime, Duarte Mugica said the soldiers, if found guilty, could receive 18 years in prison, double for junior officers, and more for senior officers; in the end they could face up to 60 years in prison.
"With these charges, there is no escaping 40 to 60 years in prison and this situation only proves that those who decide to get involved within organized crime will have two destinies: They'll go to prison or they'll be killed, they are traitors," said Duarte Mujica .
It was reported that the soldiers, including some high-ranking, were transferred to the capital of the country.
Not the first soldiers to be arrested
On February 10, ten Mexican soldiers working the San Quentin checkpoint were arrested after a woman who was arrested for drug trafficking complained the soldiers, in exchange for payment, had routinely allowed her to pass.
Sources: El Universal, La Cronica, Sedena, Excelsior
