U.S. Arrests Mexico’s Former Top Defense Official For Using His Office To Assist Drug Cartel, Reports Say

Federal law enforcement officials arrested General Salvador Cienfuegos, Mexico’s former defense minister, late on Thursday night for allegedly using his office and military power to assist a drug cartel that poured massive quantities of illicit narcotics into U.S. cities.

Authorities made the arrest immediately after Cienfuegos, 72, landed at Los Angeles International Airport. It is unclear why he had traveled to the U.S. or felt no risk in stepping onto U.S. soil.