MEXICO CITY — A former Mexican protection secretary whose arrest within the United States in 2020 on drug costs strained relations between the 2 nations was celebrated Wednesday with an honorary army ornament.

In October 2020, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos was arrested in Los Angeles and accused of ties to a world drug trafficking ring, however costs had been dropped a month later below intense strain from Mexico.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered Cienfuegos, who was head of Mexico’s military from 2012 to 2018, the award at a ceremony celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of the Heroic Military Academy, which he used to direct.

Almost three years in the past to the day, Cienfuegos was arrested at a Los Angeles airport, accused of collaborating in a world drug trafficking and cash laundering community. The U.S. later dropped their costs towards him, ostensibly as a diplomatic concession, and he was returned to Mexico for additional investigation.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s workplace, nevertheless, launched Cienfuegos after they discovered no proof of his alleged drug trafficking hyperlinks. Following the discharge López Obrador additionally accused the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration of fabricating their costs towards Cienfuegos.

“Why did they do the investigation like that?” López Obrador mentioned on the time. “Without support, without proof?”

At the ceremony Wednesday, Cienfuegos was acknowledged for strengthening the army academy throughout his time directing it. Another former military chief was additionally given an award.

The ceremony was attended by representatives of army academies from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia, in addition to different South American and Asian nations.

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