Mexican Drug Kingpin 'El Tío' Extradited to the US

 "Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Raúl Flores Hernández and/or Flores-Hernandez (El Tío)

The Mexican Attorney General's Office (FGR) extradited Raul Flores Hernandez (alias El Tio, The Uncle), an independent drug kingpin who had strategic alliances with multiple drug cartels. The extradition was made at the Toluca International Airport in the State of Mexico, where he was handed over to US agents based in Washington. D.C. El Tio lost his extradition trial last year but promoted various motions to halt this process.

U.S. authorities say that El Tio was a long-time international drug kingpin. Although he operated independently, El Tio maintained ties with multiple drug cartels in Mexico since the 1980s. He reportedly had drug and money laundering ties with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Sinaloa Cartel, Gulf Cartel, and the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO). His criminal network was mostly based in Guadalajara and Mexico City, and included a vast web of family members and trusted associates.

El Tio is also accused of negotiating and trafficking large amounts of cocaine with various Mexican criminal groups, in addition to working with Colombian drug suppliers and controlling shipping routes from Mexico to the United States.

"[El Tio] has operated for decades because of his longstanding relationships with other drug cartels and his use of financial front persons to mask his investments of illegal drug proceeds," said OFAC Director John E. Smith in 2017.

"This major joint action reflects the U.S. government's close cooperation with our law enforcement partners in Mexico to stop the illegal flow of narcotics and to target and expose drug kingpins and those who facilitate their illicit financial networks."

In March 2017, he was indicted in the U.S. District of Colombia and the Southern District of California for drug trafficking. In August of that year, he was sanctioned under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for his involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering.

As a result of this sanction, all his U.S.-based assets were frozen and U.S. individuals were prohibited from engaging in business activities with him. His assets in Mexico were also frozen.

Source: Milenio and Borderland Beat archives