Judge acquits Luis Cardenas Palomino in “Fast and Furious” case | News from Mexico

Mexico City.-Federal Judge Karina Almada Rabago has ruled Independence For Luis Cárdenas Palomino, former commander of the Federal Police, in the “Fast and Furious” case. The determination is based on the consideration that the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) did not present sufficient evidence to prosecute the accused.

The FGR, led by Alejandro Gertz Menero, indicted Cárdenas Palomino. subtraction In the case of allowing secret entry of weapons and military material into Mexico, which ended up in the hands of criminal groups. It is alleged that this was part of a US government operation to track down the leaders of criminal organizations.

Although FGR produced documents, videos and testimony from US officials, the judge ruled that these Evidence They were not sufficient to show that Cardenas Palomino was aware of the above operation.

Despite gaining freedom in the case, Cárdenas Palomino will not be released immediately, as he faces other related proceedings. torture Four members of the Los Zodiaco kidnapping gang, led by Israel Vallarta Cisneros, are currently detained in the Altiplano prison.

It should be noted that Cárdenas Palomino is the second high command of the defunct federal police to be exonerated in the “Fast and Furious” case. Earlier, in July 2022, Facundo RosasThe former commissioner of the federal police was also released after a court in Sonora overturned his formal imprisonment.