Dangerous high-ranking cartel member known as ‘The Scorpion’ extradited to the US
A high-ranking member of one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent drug cartels — known as “The Scorpion” — has been extradited to the United States after spending almost a decade on the run.
Juan Manuel Abouzaid El Bayeh, 52, was handed over to the US Marshals Service on Monday after being arrested in Mexico in 2021. He faces charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.
El Bayeh, who is known as “El Escorpion” or “The Scorpion,” was a known top associate of the prolific Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).
CJNG came to power in Jalisco, Mexico in 2009 after taking advantage of the downfall of the Valencia/Milenio cartel.
Its ruthless leader, Ruben Oseguera-Cervantes — referred to by his alias “el Mencho” — is one of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) most wanted fugitives with a $10 million bounty on his head.
Oseguera-Cervantes led CJNG through bloody turf battles to gain control over strategic areas for drug distribution, eventually turning the criminal organization into one of the five most dangerous transnational cartels designated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“The Scorpion” Juan Manuel Abouzaid El Bayeh was designated for his role in the CJNG cartel FOX 5 SanDiego
“The cartel has established itself around the world, not just dumping all the drugs in America, they’re sending drugs to 30, 40, 50 countries… because the market for drugs is exploding,” Derek Maltz, who previously served as the DEA’s chief of special operations, told The Post.
El Bayeh was part of a special group within CJNG run by Oseguera-Cervantes, according to Univision.
“This guy is just another high-ranking confidante of El Mencho, who is obviously a significant player,” Maltz said.
El Bayeh was indicted in May 2017 for drug trafficking by the US District Court in DC, which said he’d been engaged in criminal activities since 2012.
Mexican authorities later blocked El Bayeh’s bank accounts in June 2020 due to his role in the cartel, according to the Treasury Department.
In March 2021, the Treasury Department designated El Bayeh a drug trafficker “for providing material support to” CJNG.
However, while Maltz said he’s glad to see the extradition, it will not likely impact the supply chain of deadly drugs across the border in the US.
“It’s well beyond criminal cases against cartel leadership, we’re well beyond that,” Maltz said, explaining that there needs to be a powerful effort to cut the cartels’ supply chain.
Another issue is the timing of the arrest — which may be politically motivated, Victor Avila, a retired agent for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) who was shot in the line of duty by a Los Zetas cartel member, told The Post.
“Although these high-level cartel arrests are always welcomed, we must question the timing of the arrest. Remember that Mexico has presidential elections this June and it always looks good to seem like you’re fighting these cartels. This benefits both elections,” Avila said.
El Bayeh is expected to have his first court appearance May 17 in Washington, DC, according to Border Report.
https://nypost.com/2024/05/05/us-ne...wn-as-the-scorpion-extradited-to-the-us/
