US denies extradition of El Mayo Zambada; the boss accepted a life sentence

The Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico reported the seizure of 2.66 kilograms of ketamine hydrochloride in the vicinity of the Cancún International Airport, Quintana Roo. The substance was located inside checked luggage on a flight from Bogotá, Colombia.

Seizure details

Through inspection work, the authorities identified the suitcase that hid the narcotic in a double bottom designed to evade security filters. No people were reported detained during the inspection or during the seizure of the cargo.

The Security Cabinet highlighted that this seizure is part of the permanent surveillance, inspection and scanning controls that are maintained at the entry points to the country in said air terminal.

Elements of Mexican Customs participated in the actions in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense). Both institutions work together to stop the trafficking of illicit substances and maintain order in customs operations.

According to the National Cancer Institute, ketamine hydrochloride is a general anesthetic used clinically to induce loss of sensation and consciousness in surgical procedures. Likewise, it is under scientific study for its possible use in the treatment of chronic nerve pain associated with chemotherapy therapies.

The justification of Lenia Batres

The Minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Lenia Batres Guadarrama, defended her vote in favor of applying the Income Tax (ISR) to the resources of inherited retirement accounts. He argued that taxes are the only mechanism to achieve the redistribution of wealth.

“The only mechanism our world has to redistribute this wealth is the payment of taxes. That is why we consider it fair that taxes should be paid on inheritances and legacies,” he stated in a video column.

Batres cited OECD data: 24 countries charge an inheritance tax that represents 0.5% of total tax revenue. Of them, 21 apply it according to the degree of relationship and three directly tax the value of the deceased’s property.

The Court’s decision

The plenary session of the SCJN resolved by majority that the resources from individual retirement accounts should not pay ISR, considering that they are part of the assets generated during life by the worker. The original proposal of Minister Sara Irene Herrerías Guerra was withdrawn to develop a new project that protects the beneficiaries.

Batres recognized that the imposition of a tax is not the power of the High Court, but of the Congress of the Union. He insisted that inherited money does not come from the efforts of the recipient and called on the Court to promote social equity.

The minister pointed out that 50% of the world’s population owns less than 2% of the wealth, while 10% concentrates more than 76%. With his vote, he sought to move towards greater tax justice.

The Women’s Secretariat recognized the coordination between the prosecutor’s offices of Mexico City and Morelos after the arrest of Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, former director of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). The arrest warrant was derived from an investigation into alleged acts of family violence against his wife, María Felicia Jiménez.

A message against impunity

In an official statement, the federal agency indicated that the capture of the former official represents a significant advance in access to justice for the victim. Furthermore, he indicated that it sends a strong message of zero impunity for violence against women, regardless of the position or public relevance of the aggressor.

Since the case became public, the Secretariat has provided institutional support, legal advice and timely follow-up to Jiménez. The priority, according to the statement, has been to safeguard their physical and emotional safety, as well as protect their fundamental rights.

Trust in the judicial process

The institution expressed its confidence that the criminal process continues with strict adherence to the law and under a rigorous gender perspective. The objective is to guarantee comprehensive justice that includes the corresponding sanction, reparation of damage and protection measures to avoid re-victimization. With this, the Secretariat reaffirms its commitment to the defense of women in the country.