A Mexican national and gang member was extradited to the United States Wednesday to face drug trafficking charges and allegations he was involved in an attack on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that left one dead and another seriously wounded.
Jaime Zapata
Jesus Enrique Rejon Aguilar faces charges of smuggling cocaine and marijuana into the United States, in addition to separate allegations that he was involved in the shootout that led to Border Agent Jaime Zapata’s death in 2011. Rejon Aguilar has been in custody in Mexico since September 2011 as extradition proceedings were carried out. He is reportedly one of the founding members of Los Zetas, a violent criminal organization in Mexico.
American authorities say Rejon Aguilar was also involved in the February 2011 shootout that ended in Zapata’s death. On Feb. 15, 2011, Zapata and fellow ICE Agent Victor Avila were driving from Mexico City to Monterrey, Mexico, in an armored vehicle with diplomatic license plates when members of the Los Zetas gang allegedly opened fire. Zapata was killed and Avila sustained injuries but survived the attack.
Some GOP members of Congress have pressed the Justice Department about what role gun straw buyers had in Zapata’s death in the wake of the separate Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal. One Texas man has already pleaded guilty to gun law violations after guns found at Zapata’s death were traced back to him.
