A leader of a Mexican cartel, known as ‘El Botox,’ has reached out to President Donald Trump, urging him to address the widespread corruption in Mexico. Cesar Alejandro Sepulveda Arellano, identified as the head of Los Blancos de Troya, a faction of the Los Viagras cartel, made the plea in a video circulated on social media.
Arellano, wanted by both Mexican and US authorities, implored President Trump to tackle the corruption and violence plaguing Mexico. He also called for a halt to the deportation of Mexican migrants, suggesting their integration into the US job market instead.
In his video message reportedly filmed from a concealed location, Arellano criticized Mexican officials for seeking bribes from him, alleging that they extorted money from him on multiple occasions. He also accused the Morelia prison, where his cartel is based, of being rife with drugs, questioning the government’s oversight.
Expressing a desire for scrutiny from the US government and the United Nations, Arellano labeled the Mexican government as the biggest mafia responsible for perpetuating conflicts and hindering the country’s progress.
Previously, Arellano denied involvement in violent crimes and appealed for the release of his detained wife and daughter following the murder of a prominent agricultural figure, Bernardo Bravo Manriquez. The Attorney General’s Office of Michoacan has implicated Arellano in the killing, prompting state and federal authorities to issue multiple arrest warrants against him.
Los Blancos de Troya, the faction led by Arellano, has been associated with various criminal activities, including extortion, kidnapping, murder, and territorial dominance in vital agricultural regions, particularly in the citrus industry.
Despite extraditing numerous cartel leaders to the US and collaborating on border security, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly opposes foreign military intervention. President Trump’s recent remarks hinting at possible military actions against drug cartels have not been welcomed by Sheinbaum, who clarified that US troop deployment in Mexico was not under consideration.
The ongoing dynamics between the Mexican government, cartel leaders, and the prospect of external intervention underscore the complex challenges posed by organized crime in the region.