Cartel sought to buy weapons in exchange for fentanyl, U.S. says

The U.S. Justice Department unsealed indictments on Tuesday against four members of one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels accused of seeking to purchase arms and ammunition in exchange for drugs in the Czech Republic. The four alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, known by its Spanish acronym CJNG, were arrested in the Czech Republic in June, Justice Department officials said. Two of the defendants — Edgar Alejandro Lopez Velasco, 44, and Jose Miguel Alvarado Morales, 23 — have been extradited to the United States and made a court appearance in Tampa, Florida, on Monday, they said. Extradition is pending for the other two accused — Noe Diaz Jimenez, 33, and Leobardo Gaxiola Lopez, 63, also known as "Bado," the officials said. The four alleged CJNG members are charged with drug importation conspiracy, firearms trafficking and other offenses which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Lopez Velasco and Diaz Jimenez negotiated the sale of weapons in the Czech Republic "to commit acts of violence against rival cartels, civilians, police forces, and military personnel in Mexico," the Justice Department said in a statement. "These weapons included different kin...