A high-ranking member of the violent Los Zetas cartel has been sentenced to more than 31 years in U.S. prison and ordered to pay $26.5 million. The man, Eleazar Medina-Rojas, also known as “El Chelelo,” was found guilty of conspiring to move large amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. U.S. officials said he used violence and fear to control drug routes and protect the cartel’s power.
According to investigators, Medina-Rojas smuggled more than 3,000 tons of drugs across the southern Texas border during four years. He controlled routes through Brownsville, Laredo, and McAllen, often eliminating anyone who stood in his way. As a “plaza boss,” he led groups of cartel members, ordered violence against rivals, and made sure shipments reached the U.S. DEA agents worked for years to weaken his network, which eventually led to his arrest in Mexico and extradition to the U.S. in July 2023.
The Los Zetas cartel began as former Mexican soldiers working with the Gulf Cartel before forming their own violent organization. Medina-Rojas rose through the ranks and played a key role in trafficking and violence. Officials say his sentencing is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a Justice Department initiative aimed at destroying cartels, stopping illegal drugs, and protecting U.S. communities.
-Peace News Desk