In a surprising turn of events, Osiel Crdenas Guilln, the notorious former leader of the Gulf cartel, has been released from a United States prison.
Guilln, who was serving a 25-year sentence, was discharged after completing only 14 years of his term. The circumstances surrounding his early release remain unclear.
As reported by One America News, Guilln was transferred into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Guilln, a figure of significant influence in the world of organized crime, is credited with founding the Zetas, a group of former Mexican special forces soldiers who acted as his personal hit squad and private army.
In 2010, Guilln was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $50 million from his criminal enterprise for allegedly threatening to kill and assault federal agents. Despite the severity of his crimes, the reason for his early release remains a mystery.
According to an official in Mexico, Guilln is facing two arrest warrants, raising the possibility of his deportation. Leo Silva, a former U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent who worked in Mexico to combat the Zetas, told Reuters that Guilln "generated a new era of organized crime" and "unleashed this mentality of creating fear in the country." Silva also attributed the rise in cartel-related violence in Mexico over the last two decades to Guilln.
The Zetas, under Guilln's leadership, were notorious for their brutal tactics. The Associated Press reported that the group frequently killed dozens of people, often beheading them or dumping piles of severed bodies on public roads as part of their terror attacks. Guilln, known by the chilling nickname "El Mata Amigos" or "The one who kills his friends," was a figure of fear and power in the world of organized crime.
Guilln, now 57, made millions of dollars and moved tons of cocaine through the Gulf cartel, which was based in the border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros. After his capture in 2003, he was extradited to the United States in 2007. By 2010, the Zetas had established themselves as a distinct cartel, launching terror-style attacks as far south as Tabasco in Mexico, until their leaders were assassinated or detained in 20122013.
The release of such a notorious figure raises questions about the effectiveness of our justice system and the future of organized crime in the region. As the story unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against drug cartels and the devastating impact they have on society.
Login