Arellano Felix drug cartel leader gets 5-year sentence
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MEXICO CITY — Benjamin Arellano Felix, reputed to be one of Mexico’s most notorious drug lords, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for arms possession.
The sentence, reported by Mexican online media late Thursday, was the first passed on Arellano Felix since his arrest in 2002. He faces trial on other charges, such as organized crime activities and drug trafficking.
He ran the brutal Tijuana-based Arellano Felix organization with his brother Ramon from the late 1980s until his brother’s death in a shootout with police in February 2002 and his arrest shortly afterward.
Younger brother Francisco Javier took over running the cartel, but was arrested by the U.S. Coast Guard last year.
Other brothers include Francisco Rafael, who was extradited to the U.S. last year, and Francisco Eduardo, who is at large.
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