Local Justice Chief Arrested for Ties to Drug Cartel

Mexican Attorney General Marisela Morales Ibáñez announced the arrest of Claudia González López, the local head of Mexico’s Justice Department for the city of Saltillo, Coahuila. González López, who was transported to prison along with several alleged accomplices, is accused of accepting bribes and providing protection to the Zetas, Mexico’s largest and most notorious drug trafficking organization.

Morales indicated that more arrests would be coming. She also indicated major changes are in the offing in the states of Veracruz, Querétaro, and Campeche, all currently Zeta strongholds.

Prosecutions of government officials has been rare in Mexico.

While some view the move as a positive sign that Mexican officials are getting serious about cleaning house, others have suggested that the current administration is collaborating with the Sinaloa cartel in order to impede the rapid rise of the Zeta cartel.

Los Zetas were founded a decade ago by deserters from the Special Forces unit of Mexico’s army and who are known for their paramilitary tactics, technological sophistication, and extreme violence against rival cartels and civilians alike.