Latest news with #OmarGarciaHarfuch
Al Arabiya
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
El Salvador recalls Mexico ambassador over cocaine plane row
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele recalled his ambassador to Mexico on Wednesday and asked the country to clarify its security chief's claim that an intercepted plane loaded with cocaine had originated in El Salvador. Mexican security secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch said Tuesday that authorities had detected a small plane 'originating in El Salvador' carrying 428 kilos (940 pounds) of cocaine, and that they had arrested three people. Bukele called the claim 'FALSE' in a post on X Wednesday and said he was recalling El Salvador's ambassador Delmy Canas. 'We demand an immediate clarification and rectification from the Mexican government,' Bukele said separately at a press conference, releasing a video of Garcia Harfuch's statements. According to the Salvadoran president, last week Costa Rica reported 'a suspicious aircraft trace northwest of its territory,' which triggered a 'regional alert' in a Central American air security network. The plane's 'trace' indicated that it 'entered Costa Rica, briefly disappeared from radar, and then reappeared, heading out toward the Pacific Ocean,' Bukele added, underscoring that the three people arrested were Mexican citizens. 'Our radars did not register any aerial contact within our territory,' said Bukele, who displayed a map he said 'clearly shows' the route 'well south of El Salvador and Nicaragua.' The trace 'was confirmed' by the United States Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS), which 'monitors illicit trafficking in the region,' he added. 'El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking. We didn't do it before, and we won't do it now. Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that don't concern us or belong to us,' Bukele said. Central America is a gateway for cocaine sent from South American cartels to the United States, the world's largest consumer of the drug. Bukele is widely popular for his war on gangs, which has reduced violence in his country to historic lows, but he has drawn criticism from rights groups for restricting freedoms and allowing mass arrests without a warrant.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
El Salvador recalls ambassador to Mexico after drug trafficking claims
SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) -Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday he was recalling his country's ambassador to Mexico for consultations after its security minister claimed a drug trafficking plane had come from the Central American nation, which Bukele denied. In a post on X, Bukele said Mexico needed to clarify and rectify Tuesday's comments by the minister, Omar Garcia Harfuch, that the plane flown by drug traffickers had come from El Salvador before it was intercepted in the Mexican state of Colima. "We are summoning our ambassador in Mexico for consultations regarding this situation," Bukele added. Bukele provided a map of the plane's alleged flight path in which it appeared off the coast of Costa Rica, to the south of El Salvador, before heading north across the Pacific. "The plane flew over the Pacific Ocean and never touched Salvadoran territory," he said. Responding to Bukele on Wednesday, Garcia Harfuch said Mexican airspace authorities had first detected the plane about 200 km (120 miles) south of San Salvador. A map he posted on X also showed the plane's flight path across the Pacific. Mexican authorities said the three aboard were arrested and 427 kg (940 lb) of cocaine were seized after the plane landed. Bukele said the men were all Mexican, a fact the Mexican government had not made public. "El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking; we didn't do that before, and we won't do that now," Bukele said. "Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that are not our responsibility." Garcia Harfuch acknowledged the men were Mexican and said they were facing criminal charges. "We reiterate our respect and appreciation for the people of El Salvador," he said.
Reuters
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
El Salvador recalls ambassador to Mexico after drug trafficking claims
SAN SALVADOR, July 9 (Reuters) - Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday that he was recalling the Central American nation's ambassador to Mexico for consultations after Mexico's security minister claimed a drug trafficking plane had come from El Salvador, which Bukele denied. Bukele, in a post on X, said that the Mexican government needed to clarify and rectify the comments made by Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch. Garcia Harfuch, speaking in a morning press conference on Tuesday, had claimed that a small plane flown by drug traffickers had come from El Salvador before being intercepted in the Mexican state of Colima. Bukele shared a map of the plane's alleged flight path, which showed it appearing off the coast of Costa Rica - to the south of El Salvador - before heading north across the Pacific. "The plane flew over the Pacific Ocean and never touched Salvadoran territory," he said. According to Mexican authorities, the three men aboard were arrested and 427 kilograms of cocaine were seized after the plane landed in Colima. Bukele said that the men were all Mexican, "something no media outlet or official source has published so far." "El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking; we didn't do that before, and we won't do that now," Bukele said. "Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that are not our responsibility." Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
El Salvador recalls ambassador to Mexico after drug trafficking claims
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar Garcia Harfuch speaks during a press conference with Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero about the extradition of 29 drug cartel members to the U.S, at the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection headquarters in Mexico City, Mexico February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File photo SAN SALVADOR - Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday that he was recalling the Central American nation's ambassador to Mexico for consultations after Mexico's security minister claimed a drug trafficking plane had come from El Salvador, which Bukele denied. Bukele, in a post on X, said that the Mexican government needed to clarify and rectify the comments made by Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch. Garcia Harfuch, speaking in a morning press conference on Tuesday, had claimed that a small plane flown by drug traffickers had come from El Salvador before being intercepted in the Mexican state of Colima. Bukele shared a map of the plane's alleged flight path, which showed it appearing off the coast of Costa Rica - to the south of El Salvador - before heading north across the Pacific. "The plane flew over the Pacific Ocean and never touched Salvadoran territory," he said. According to Mexican authorities, the three men aboard were arrested and 427 kilograms of cocaine were seized after the plane landed in Colima. Bukele said that the men were all Mexican, "something no media outlet or official source has published so far." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Asia Dr M at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma World Trump issues tariff notices to 7 minor trading partners, hits Brazil with 50% tariff Singapore Apex court upholds SMC's conviction of doctor who gave patients unapproved hormones Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Singapore Singaporean fugitive arrested in Thailand for suspected drug trafficking and handed over to CNB Business US Fed minutes show divide on rate cut pace, tariff impacts Business SGX securities turnover up 23% in June, bringing financial year's gain to 28% "El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking; we didn't do that before, and we won't do that now," Bukele said. "Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that are not our responsibility." Mexico's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS
NDTV
09-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
10 Mexican Cartel Gunmen Sentenced To 141 Years In Prison
A Mexican court on Tuesday sentenced 10 cartel gunmen to 141 years each in prison for murder and kidnapping at a suspected training camp, in a case that shocked the country. The men were arrested last September at a ranch authorities say was used as a forced recruitment center for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the country's most powerful criminal gangs. Two captives were freed and a dead body found when the military raided the property in the western state of Jalisco following reports of gunfire, according to authorities. "The defendants were each sentenced to 141 years and three months in prison" for one count of homicide and two counts of kidnapping, according to a statement from the Jalisco prosecutor's office. The Guerreros Buscadores collective, a group dedicated to locating missing relatives, reported in March that charred bones as well as hundreds of objects and items of clothing had been found at Izaguirre Ranch, allegedly belonging to people who had been forced to join the cartel. However, the government said that there was no evidence that the ranch was an "extermination camp" as the group alleged, but rather a cartel training center. Since March, about 15 other people, including a mayor and police officers, have been arrested in connection with the site. The case has received significant press coverage in a country where criminal violence has left more than 120,000 people missing, mostly since the government launched a war on drug cartels in 2006. According to the government, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the drug trafficking groups designated terrorist organizations by US President Donald Trump, lured recruits to Izaguirre Ranch with fake job adverts. They were given firearms and other training there, Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said in March, based on the testimony of an alleged cartel recruiter who was arrested. "They even took the lives of people who resisted the training or tried to escape," he said. The United Nations Human Rights Office has called for "thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations" into the crimes committed at the ranch. Disappearances, many of them thought to be linked to forced recruitment by cartels, have soared in Mexico since the government deployed the military against drug trafficking groups almost two decades ago. Around 480,000 people have been murdered in a spiral of violence since then.
