Chepe Diablo arrested in El Salvador
During Luis Martinez's term as attorney general, several investigations into alleged crimes were shelved for unspecified reasons. Martinez was arrested last August.
Douglas Melendez, the current attorney general, is now moving ahead with a few of those cases, including that of José Adán Salazar Umaña, better known as Chepe Diablo.
Chepe Diablo was also close with Herbert Saca, former president Tony Saca's cousin and a close confidant of former president Mauricio Funes. Saca is in jail and Funes has gained asylum in Nicaragua. It's early in the game but yesterday's arrests have the potential to unravel the political system in El Salvador.
I think more people would have faith in Melendez's ability to successfully prosecute Chepe Diablo, and others linked to him, had the country adopted a CICIES. However, a successful prosecution could go a long ways towards proving that a CICIES was not necessary. You just needed an attorney general committed to taking his job seriously. It's early in the game but score one for Melendez.
Douglas Melendez, the current attorney general, is now moving ahead with a few of those cases, including that of José Adán Salazar Umaña, better known as Chepe Diablo.
Local media reports say Salazar Umana was a leader of the Texis cartel in El Salvador and has been linked to money laundering through his businesses.
Salvadoran Attorney General Douglas Melendez said about 50 prosecutors are searching some 26 companies, including hotels, gas stations and residences.
"At the moment, I can only confirm the arrest of Mr. Jose Adan Salazar and three others, but I cannot say their names," he said.Chepe Diablo was designated an international drug kingpin by the US in 2014. One of Chepe Diablo's business partners in Desarrollos Montecristo was Oscar Ortiz. Ortiz is the current vice president of El Salvador, a person many of us had high hopes for as a moderate and effective leader of the FMLN. Ortiz has publicly minimized his relationship with the international drug kingpin, although I am not sure how many people believe him.
Chepe Diablo was also close with Herbert Saca, former president Tony Saca's cousin and a close confidant of former president Mauricio Funes. Saca is in jail and Funes has gained asylum in Nicaragua. It's early in the game but yesterday's arrests have the potential to unravel the political system in El Salvador.
I think more people would have faith in Melendez's ability to successfully prosecute Chepe Diablo, and others linked to him, had the country adopted a CICIES. However, a successful prosecution could go a long ways towards proving that a CICIES was not necessary. You just needed an attorney general committed to taking his job seriously. It's early in the game but score one for Melendez.
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