A former Mexican defense secretary, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos, who had been arrested in the United States back in 2020 on drug-related charges, causing tension between the two nations, received an honorary military decoration on Wednesday.
In October 2020, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos faced an arrest in Los Angeles, accused of having connections to an international drug trafficking ring. However, just a month later, the charges against him were dropped due to immense pressure from Mexico.
During a ceremony marking the bicentennial anniversary of the Heroic Military Academy, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador honored Cienfuegos. It's worth noting that Cienfuegos had previously served as the head of Mexico's army from 2012 to 2018.
Nearly three years ago, Cienfuegos found himself detained at a Los Angeles airport on charges of involvement in international drug trafficking and money laundering. The United States later withdrew the charges, seemingly as a diplomatic gesture, and Cienfuegos returned to Mexico for further investigation.
The Mexican Attorney General's office eventually released Cienfuegos after failing to find evidence linking him to the alleged drug trafficking activities. In response, López Obrador publicly criticized the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for what he perceived as baseless charges.
During the recent ceremony, Cienfuegos was honored for his contributions to the military academy while he was in charge. Additionally, another former army chief received a similar award.
The ceremony attracted representatives from military academies in countries such as Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, as well as other nations in South America and Asia.
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