Meth Cartel Figure Gets 49 Years in Prison
The third of three brothers who once led what U.S. authorities described as the world’s largest methamphetamine cartel was sentenced to 49 years in prison.
Luis Ignacio Amezcua Contreras is being held in the top-security La Palma prison west of Mexico City. On Wednesday, authorities announced sentences of 53 years and nine months for his brother, Jose de Jesus Amezcua. A third brother, Adan Amezcua, was sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Mexican authorities say the brothers led a cartel that illegally imported ephedrine from Europe, India and Pakistan through ports on Mexico’s Pacific and Gulf coasts and used it to manufacture methamphetamine in western Mexico. U.S. officials said the cartel also supplied meth labs in the United States.
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