Authorities indict 43 linked to Mexican drug cartel

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Greg Moran, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:24 a.m.

SAN DIEGO — Forty-three people tied to a Mexican drug cartel were indicted Friday on racketeering and conspiracy charges. The crimes they are accused of committing include murder, kidnapping, robbery, drug smuggling and money laundering.

Those indicted are members and associates of the Fernando Sánchez Organization, an offshoot of the Arellano Félix drug cartel. The complaint also alleges that one of the conspirators, Jesús Quiñónez Márquez, director of international liaison for the Baja California Attorney General’s Office, was aware of the operation and worked with those indicted.

Quiñónez is a former homicide chief in Tijuana for the Baja California Attorney General’s Office. His most recent post was as the agency’s international liaison officer, a sensitive position that required coordination with U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Last year, Quiñónez spearheaded the launching of Baja California’s Amber Alert program.

Federal, state and local law enforcement were involved in the long-term investigation, dubbed Operation Luz Verde.

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