Photo credit: The New York Times
Authorities in Mexico say they have arrested an alleged cartel kingpin over the decade-old disappearance of 43 students.
Al Jazeera reports that Gildardo Lopez Astudillo, the suspect, was detained on charges of “organized crime.” He was taken to the Altiplano maximum security prison in Mexico.
Lopez Astudillo, also known as “El Gil,” is being jailed for the second time since the cartel he allegedly leads was accused of orchestrating the disappearance and suspected murder in 2014 of the students in Iguala.
His arrest comes as relatives prepare demonstrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the students’ disappearance. He was first arrested in 2015. He was released after a judge found the evidence against him was obtained illegally.
He later served as a protected witness for the prosecution’s office, offering alleged details about the criminal group’s involvement in the students’ disappearance, according to El Pais newspaper.
