A prominent Mexican cartel leader, Cesar Alejandro Sepulveda Arellano, also known as ‘El Botox,’ has made a plea to US President Donald Trump to address the rampant corruption in Mexico. Arellano, the alleged leader of Los Blancos de Troya, a faction of the Los Viagras cartel, released a video on social media urging Trump to help eradicate the pervasive corruption and violence in Mexico. He specifically asked Trump to cease deporting Mexican immigrants and instead integrate them into the American workforce.
In the video, Arellano accused Mexican authorities of soliciting bribes from him on multiple occasions to allow his operations to continue unhindered. He claimed that Mexican prisons, including Morelia prison in Michoacan, where his cartel is based, are rife with drugs. Arellano challenged the government’s integrity, questioning its willingness to investigate its own wrongdoings.
Furthermore, Arellano called for scrutiny from the US government and the United Nations to investigate the Mexican government’s alleged involvement in perpetuating violence and poverty in the country. He distanced himself from certain violent crimes and appealed for the release of his detained family members following the murder of an agricultural leader.
Authorities in Michoacan have accused Arellano of orchestrating the murder, and both state and federal agencies have issued warrants for his arrest, offering a reward for information leading to his capture. Los Blancos de Troya, the cartel Arellano is associated with, has been implicated in various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, and territorial control in key agricultural areas.
While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has collaborated with the US on extraditing cartel leaders and border security, she has opposed foreign military involvement in Mexico. Trump recently mentioned the possibility of military action against drug cartels following operations in the Pacific and Caribbean regions. However, Sheinbaum clarified that any US troop deployment to Mexico was not being considered.
In summary, Arellano’s plea for intervention from Trump sheds light on the challenges of corruption and violence in Mexico, drawing attention to the complexities of addressing cartel-related issues in the country.