Mexico’s President Reiterates Country’s Stance Against Death Penalty
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, reiterated the country’s stance against the death penalty, commenting on the U.S. Department of Justice’s decision not to seek capital punishment against three Mexican drug trafficking leaders, including Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, Rafael Caro Quintero, and Jesús Vicente Zambada.
“We are against the death penalty, regardless of the crime. It is not something we agree with; it’s part of Mexico’s state policy, not a personal opinion,” the Mexican leader stated on Wednesday.
Extradition Treaties and the Death Penalty
Sheinbaum Pardo added that Mexico’s extradition treaties clearly state that there cannot be a death penalty for individuals handed over to another country, which has been a consistent clause in the bilateral relationship.
Regarding rumors of an alleged agreement between the U.S. government and drug traffickers, like in the case of Ovidio Guzmán extradited in September 2023, she mentioned that there is no official information about such an agreement. “We don’t know what agreement there might be; it’s not public, and none of us has information about it,” she said.
Celebrates US Gun Trafficking Sentence
In another matter, Sheinbaum Pardo hailed the recent U.S. sentence against six individuals accused of trafficking high-powered weapons to Mexico as a “positive indicator” of the shared commitment to combat transnational crime.
Illegal Arms Trafficking Concerns
The president emphasized that illegal arms trafficking is a constant concern in diplomatic conversations with Washington, particularly since many of those weapons end up in the hands of organized crime in Mexico.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main topic of President Sheinbaum’s statement? President Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico’s opposition to the death penalty and commented on a U.S. decision not to seek capital punishment against Mexican drug trafficking leaders.
- Why does Mexico oppose the death penalty? Mexico’s stance against the death penalty is part of its state policy, not a personal opinion, according to President Sheinbaum.
- Are there any extradition treaties between Mexico and the U.S. regarding the death penalty? Yes, Mexico’s extradition treaties with the U.S. explicitly state that there cannot be a death penalty for individuals handed over to another country.
- What recent U.S. sentence did President Sheinbaum celebrate? President Sheinbaum celebrated a U.S. sentence against six individuals accused of trafficking high-powered weapons to Mexico.
- Why is illegal arms trafficking a concern for Mexico? Illegal arms trafficking is a constant worry in diplomatic conversations with the U.S., as many of those weapons end up with organized crime in Mexico.
