WASHINGTON, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- An alleged high-ranking member of the Mexican Gulf Cartel has been extradited to the United States on drug conspiracy charges, U.S. officials said Tuesday.
Aurelio Cano-Flores, aka "Yankee" and "Yeyo," made his initial appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola in Washington. He was extradited Friday after being held by Mexican authorities since his arrest June 10, 2009.
He has been ordered held pending trial.
U.S. officials said Cano-Flores, 39, was charged, along with 19 others, in a superseding indictment returned Nov. 4, 2010. He is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana for importation into the United States.
Court documents say Cano-Flores was a high-ranking member of the Gulf Cartel when it worked in close partnership with Los Zetas, known as "The Company." The Gulf Cartel allegedly transported shipments of cocaine and marijuana by motor vehicles from Mexico to cities in Texas for U.S. distribution.
The indictment also alleges Cano-Flores and his co-defendants organized, directed and carried out various acts of violence against Mexican law enforcement officers and rival drug traffickers.
