Documents: Feds allegedly allowed Sinaloa cartel to move cocaine into U.S. for information

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_18608410

Documents: Feds allegedly allowed Sinaloa cartel to move cocaine into U.S. for information
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 08/03/2011 06:58:42 PM MDT

U.S. federal agents allegedly allowed the Sinaloa drug cartel to traffic several tons of cocaine into the United States in exchange for information about rival cartels, according to court documents filed in a U.S. federal court.

The allegations are part of the defense of Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who was extradited to the United States to face drug-trafficking charges in Chicago. The court in Chicago held a status hearing today and ordered the U.S.

government to respond to Zambada-Niebla's motion containing the allegations by Sept. 11.

The case could prove to be a bombshell on par with the ATF's "Operation Fast and Furious," except that instead of U.S. guns being allowed to walk across the border, the Sinaloa cartel was allowed to bring drugs into the United States over a five-year period, the documents allege.

Zambada-Niebla, who worked for Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman Loera, is the son of Ismael "Mayo" Zambada-Garcia, another drug lord associated with the Sinaloa cartel.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.