Top Los Zetas cartel leader sentenced to 31 years in U.S. prison for drug trafficking
HOUSTON, TX – A high-ranking member of the violent Los Zetas cartel has been sentenced to over 31 years in federal prison after authorities say he directed the trafficking of massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States while using violence to control key smuggling routes.
Eleazar Medina-Rojas, also known as “El Chelelo,” 53, of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was sentenced for his role in a years-long drug trafficking conspiracy that involved more than 90,000 kilograms of marijuana and over 450 kilograms of cocaine. In addition to prison time, Medina-Rojas was ordered to pay $26.5 million in forfeiture.
Medina-Rojas, a former “plaza boss” for Los Zetas, operated smuggling routes leading into South Texas cities including Brownsville, Laredo, and McAllen. Authorities say he eliminated rivals through threats, armed violence, and cartel-backed force to maintain control over those corridors between 2006 and 2007.
According to court documents, Medina-Rojas rose through the ranks of Los Zetas — originally formed as a military wing of the Gulf Cartel — and played a direct leadership role in what was later known as “The Company.” He commanded dozens of cartel members and orchestrated enforcement operations to protect cartel interests, often through violent confrontations with rival groups.
He was captured in Mexico with the assistance of U.S. and Mexican authorities and extradited to the United States in July 2023.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Division led the investigation, with support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative targeting cartel networks and transnational organized crime.
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Key Points
- Eleazar Medina-Rojas sentenced to 31 years for drug trafficking conspiracy
- Responsible for smuggling over 90,000 kilograms of marijuana and 450 kilograms of cocaine
- Former Los Zetas plaza boss controlled drug routes into South Texas through violence
