Hungarian national arrested in Mexico on suspicion of drug trafficking

Mexican Authorities Arrest Suspected Drug Trafficker on EU’s Most Wanted List

A 48-year-old Hungarian citizen, Janos Balla, also known as “Daniel Takacs”, was arrested in Quintana Roo, Mexico, on Saturday. The arrest was made possible through collaboration with Hungarian authorities and an Interpol red notice.

Balla has been sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the European Union. According to Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch, Balla’s mobility zone was identified through information exchange with Hungarian security agencies and intelligence work.

A joint statement from Mexican agencies involved in the arrest credited their collaboration with Hungarian authorities for securing Balla’s capture. The operation took place on Politecnico Avenue in the municipality of Benito Juarez.

Balla has been placed in the custody of Mexico’s National Institute of Migration to determine his immigration status and continue his controlled deportation process to Europe.

This latest arrest is part of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s efforts to increase cartel-related arrests. The Mexican government has taken a harder line on combating drug trafficking, following pressure from US President Donald Trump. In March, Trump labelled several Mexican cartels as “foreign terrorist organisations” and threatened military action in the country.

Since taking office, Sheinbaum’s administration has launched several high-profile operations against cartel leaders. In February, a military operation resulted in the death of Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho”, the former head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. In March, another cartel leader, Omar Oswaldo Torres of the Sinaloa Cartel’s Los Mayos faction, was arrested.

Ahead of June’s World Cup kickoff, Sheinbaum has pledged to surge law enforcement and military personnel to Mexico’s streets, with nearly 100,000 security personnel expected to be present.

Source: Al Jazeera