U.S. federal court documents suggest federal agents may have permitted a Mexican drug cartel, known as the Sinaloa cartel, to traffic several tons of cocaine to the United States in exchange for information on rival cartels that operate in the United States.

The court documents, which have been posted on the Internet, are part of the defense of Vicente Zambada-Niebla, who was extradited to the United States and faces drug-trafficking charges.

Fox News has more:

". …The allegations are made by Vicente Zambada-Niebla, a top ranking cartel boss extradited to the U.S. last year on drug charges. He is a close associate of Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and the son of Ismael "Mayo" Zambada-Garcia.

Both remain fugitives, in part, because of the deal Zambada- Niebla made with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, according to a defense motion filed last Friday in the case.

Alvin Michaelson, the Los Angeles attorney representing Zambada- Niebla who wrote the brief, refused comment.

The deal allegedly began with Humberto Loya-Castro, a Sinaloa cartel lawyer who became an informant for the D.E.A. after a drug case against him was dismissed in 2008. …"

Read the full article here.

The motion filed by Zambada-Niebla’s lawyers alleges that their client was assured he was immune from charges when he met with two Drug Enforcement Agency agents.

Here’s an excerpt from the motion:

"Mr. Zambada-Niebla was also told that the arrangements with him had been approved at the highest levels of the United States government. Mr. Zambada-Niebla was told that a Washington, D.C. indictment would be dismissed and that he would be immune from further prosecution. There is also evidence that at the hotel, Mr. Zambada- Niebla did accept the agreement and thereafter in reliance on that agreement, provided further information regarding rival drug cartels. Mr. Zambada-Niebla was told that the government agents were satisfied with the information he had provided to them and that arrangements would be made to meet with him again. Mr. Zambada-Niebla then left the meeting. Approximately five hours after the meeting, Mr. Zambada-Niebla was arrested by Mexican authorities."

The motion adds that federal organizations, including the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration, were aware of individuals receiving weapons through the now defunct "Operation Fast and Furious."

In court the U.S. did not deny that Zambada-Niebla may have acted in the capacity of an informant but said he did not act with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s consent, according to Fox News.

Sinaloa, which is notorious for its organized crime, is among the most violent states in Mexico. In 2010 there were 2,505 murders recorded in Sinaloa.

 

Reach Reut Cohen here or follow her on Twitter.