Luis Ignacio Amezcua Contreras (born c. 1974[1]), along with his brothers Adán and Jesús, was a leader of the Colima Cartel, a Mexican methamphetamine and precursor drug smuggling organization.[2][3][4][5][6]
Luis Ignacio Amezcua Contreras | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Head of the Colima Cartel |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Criminal charge | Drug trafficking and smuggling and money laundering |
Arrest
editOn June 1, 1998, Luis and Jesús Amezcua were arrested in Guadalajara by agents from the Mexican counter-narcotics agency, Fiscalia Especial Para Atencion a los Delitos Contra la Salud (FEADS). The Colima Cartel at the time of the arrests of Luis and Jesús was believed to be "the most prominent methamphetamine trafficking organization operating ... as well as the leading supplier of chemicals to other methamphetamine trafficking organizations"[4] Within 9 days of their arrest, The New York Times reported two of the three charges Luis and Jesús Amezcua Contreras were facing were dropped. Judge Jose Nieves Luna Castro dropped from each, one count of criminal association and money laundering, saying they had been charged under statutes that were not in effect at the time of their alleged crimes, leaving one remaining charge for each of the brothers.[5]
On September 5, 2002, Japan Today published an article in which the head of the attorney general's organized crime unit (UEDO), Joe Luis Santiago Vasconcelos, stated the sisters of the imprisoned Colima Cartel leaders Luis Ignacio, Jesus and Adan Amezcua-Contreras had taken over for their brothers.[6] all brothers Freed from jail as of 2 years ago
Kingpin Act sanction
editOn 1 June 2000, the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Amezcua under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (sometimes referred to simply as the "Kingpin Act"), for his involvement in drug trafficking along with eleven other international criminals.[7] The act prohibited U.S. citizens and companies from doing any kind of business activity with him, and virtually froze all his assets in the U.S.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Sam Dillon (November 18, 1997). "Mexico Holds Brother Linked To His Family's Drug Dealing". The New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
Luis, 33
- ^ "1998 Congressional Hearings Intelligence and Security: DEA Congressional Testimony". Senate Foreign Relations Committee. February 26, 1998.
- ^ "PBS Frontline: Murder Money & Mexico: The Amezcua-Contreras Cartel". Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
- ^ a b "DEA Confirms Arrest By Mexican Authorities of Amezcua-Contreras Brothers". Drug Enforcement Administration. June 2, 1998. Archived from the original on August 29, 2007.
- ^ a b "Mexico Drops Most Charges on 2 Drug Suspects". The New York Times. June 10, 1998.
- ^ a b "Women take over Mexican drug cartels". Japan Today. September 5, 2002.[dead link]
- ^ "Designations Pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act" (PDF). United States Department of the Treasury. May 15, 2014. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "An overview of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act" (PDF). United States Department of the Treasury. 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.