Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A total of 22 people alleged part of the defunct Gulf Cartel have been formally charged with offenses that range from drugs to possession of firearms. In a press release, the Quintana Roo State Attorney General’s Office reported the successful charges after a six-hour court debate.
In their statement, the agency explained that “prosecutors from the Public Ministry attached to the Playa del Carmen Drug Dealing Prosecutor’s Office laid charges against 22 people.”
The agency also said that prosecutors participated in an intense debate that last more than six hours to have those 22 people formally charged. One of those successfully charged was a man referred to as El Rizos, a former leader of the Gulf Cartel.
The charges stem back to the July 21 arrest of 26 people after a citizen 911 report of armed people in a vehicle. When police arrived, they located six armed men descending from a vehicle. From that, they carried out an inspection of the private residential area that revealed drugs, weapons, ballistic vests and tactical equipment.
Only four of the 26 arrested were not charged, however, the FGE says they are appealing that decision.
