The former Mexican official Edgar Veytia, known as 'El Diablo', has been a key player in the cooperation between the authorities of Mexico and the United States. During his tenure as prosecutor in Nayarit, Veytia led a corruption network that allowed organized crime to operate with impunity in the region. Despite the accusations against him in Mexico, there have been no concrete advances in his extradition process so far.
His arrest in 2017 marked the beginning of a long judicial process that culminated in his guilty plea in 2019 and an initial sentence of 20 years in prison, although this was reduced to eight years due to his cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice. Veytia provided crucial testimony in the trial against Genaro García Luna, former federal Secretary of Public Security, convicted for his ties to organized crime, and also collaborated in building cases against Salvador Cienfuegos, former Secretary of National Defense.
According to Rodrigo González Barrios, spokesperson for the Truth Commission of Nayarit, there are currently at least six arrest warrants in the national territory against Veytia for serious crimes such as kidnapping, torture, and expropriation. Under his leadership, the state police of Nayarit was accused of human rights violations, including kidnappings, torture, and property expropriation, highlighting his ties to high-ranking military and state government officials.
Born in Tijuana, Baja California, and raised in San Diego, Veytia, who holds dual citizenship, has a history of connections and corruption in his political career and security operations. Despite his release in the United States after suing the FBI and DEA, the allegations against him in Mexico remain pending, and his role in the protection and facilitation of organized crime activities in the region continues to be investigated.
