Azucena Lazalde Íñiguez, Second District Judge for Criminal Matters in the State of Mexico, granted an injunction temporarily halting the extradition of “El Jardinero” (The Gardener), linked to the CJNG cartel, to the United States. However, this does not mean he will be released.
Audias “N,” identified by the Security Cabinet as the alleged successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” as leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), will remain in pretrial detention while his criminal proceedings continue.
The ruling, issued after the court accepted an appeal for protection (amparo), orders that the situation remain as it is, preventing his extradition to the requesting country until the merits of the case are resolved.
Why was the extradition of “El Jardinero” suspended?
Judge Lazalde Íñiguez’s ruling means that Audias ‘N’ will remain at the disposal of the District Court only with regard to his personal liberty.
A measure was also issued to guarantee that the detainee will not be held incommunicado. This decision comes in a context of maximum security, as the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) recently transferred ‘El Jardinero’ to the Federal Social Rehabilitation Center (CEFERESO) No. 1, known as ‘El Altiplano’, in the State of Mexico.
Currently, the accused faces federal charges in Mexico for his alleged responsibility in the possession of firearms and magazines for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.
Due to the seriousness of these crimes, a judge has already ordered his pretrial detention while his legal status is determined after he requested an extension of the constitutional deadline.
Beyond these recent charges, Audias ‘N’s’ criminal record is extensive and complex. Between 2009 and 2010, six arrest warrants were issued against him in the state of Jalisco for homicide and organized crime.
Although he was arrested in 2016, he was released at that time because the judges determined there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him.
However, the most critical precedent that could complicate his legal situation, regardless of the extradition of ‘El Jardinero’ (The Gardener), is his participation in an armed attack in April 2015 in San Sebastián del Oeste.
In that attack against the then-Jalisco State Police Force, six officers lost their lives. For this case, Audias ‘N’ faces charges of:
Aggravated homicide.
Attempted aggravated homicide.
Organized crime.
Although initially acquitted in 2019, a second instance overturned that acquittal and issued a 45-year prison sentence, in addition to fines and restitution.
Because he was a fugitive, a warrant for his rearrest was issued in 2024 to enforce this final sentence.
This legal situation suggests that, even if the appeal regarding his extradition to the United States were resolved, the defendant still has long-standing outstanding debts with the Mexican justice system.
Source: telediario
