The United States Department of Justice dropped the criminal charges against General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, Mexico’s former Secretary of National Defense, to allow him to be investigated in Mexico’s justice system.

On October 15, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, upon arrival at LAX airport in Los Angeles, on drug trafficking charges related to collusion with the H-2 cartel.

Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda was Secretary of Defense in the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto and is the highest-ranking member of the Mexican Army to face drug charges.

This Tuesday the US Attorney General, William Barr, and his Mexican counterpart, the Attorney General, Alejandro Gertz Manero, issued a joint statement on the matter.

Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda was arrested on US charges of conspiracy to manufacture, import and distribute narcotics to the United States and money laundering.

Once news of the arrest and the charges brought by US authorities to General Cienfuegos became known, the Attorney General’s Office of the Mexican Republic opened its own investigation.

Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda

“In recognition of the solid institutional partnership between Mexico and the United States, and with the interest of demonstrating our united front against all forms of criminality, the United States Department of Justice has made the decision to request the Judge to dismiss the criminal charges of the United States against former Secretary Cienfuegos, so that he can be investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted in accordance with Mexican law,» the statement said.

At the request of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), the United States Department of Justice, by virtue of the Treaty that governs the exchange of evidence, has provided Mexico with evidence in this case and undertakes to continue cooperation, within of that framework, to support investigations carried out by Mexican authorities.

“Our two countries remain committed to cooperation in this matter, as well as to all of our bilateral law enforcement cooperation. As today’s decision reflects, we are stronger when we work together and respect the sovereignty of our nations and their institutions. This close association increases the security of the citizens of our two countries,” the statement added.