Guatemalan police arrest suspected drug lord

Guatemalan police arrest suspected drug lord

2011-04-28 02:37:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

EL PROGRESO, GUATEMALA (BNO NEWS) -- Guatemalan police arrested an alleged drug lord who is wanted by the United States in the country's El Progreso department, authorities said on Wednesday.

Local daily, El Periódico, reported that Waldemar Lorenzana Lima was captured on Tuesday in the town of El Jícaro, 65 kilometers (40 miles) away from Guatemala City. Lorenzana is wanted by the U.S. for his alleged links to Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel. His three sons are also accused of international drug trafficking.

According to a statement by the Attorney General's prosecutors, Lorenzana is allegedly the link between drug trafficking groups in Colombia and Mexico and the US. In 1999, the U.S. accused him of trafficking cocaine, and in 2009, an American judge issued an arrest warrant against him.

Lorenzana will be likely extradited to the U.S, while his three sons are still at large. He claims he has been a hard worker since 1959 when he established a company dedicated to export products.

Guatemalan Interior Minister Carlos Menocal said Lorenzana was transfered to a maximum security prison since there could be a possible rescue attempt. His grandson, who tried to prevent the arrest of his grandfather, was also arrested and is accused of obstructing justice.

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