In Mexico, Coke 'Kingpin' is Illegal Immigrant

HOUSTON - There has been another high-profile arrest in Mexico’s drug war. And this one turns our idea of illegal immigrants on its head.

Edgar Valdez Villarreal’s story sounds familiar, at first. Nicknamed ’La Barbie,’ he is accused of committing serious crimes while being in the country illegally.

In this case, however, the country he’s in is Mexico. And Valdez is an American.

His fair complexion prompted his nickname, which translates, ’Barbie Doll.’

But there is no child’s play in the allegations against Edgar Valdez, who was captured Monday.

He is an accused drug lord, believed responsible for bringing cocaine into the US and bloodshed into Mexico.

FOX 26 News asked Valdez’s attorney, Kent Schaffer, how a south Texas boy could end up a Mexican cartel kingpin.

’That is the allegation, isn't it?’ replied Schaffer. ’He was just an average ordinary student, decent football player in Laredo, Texas. And this myth has just sort of perpetuated itself over the last decade and a half.’

Myths can be made when truth is hard to come by.

That’s certainly the case in Mexico, where alliances constantly shift among narco-traffickers, all of whom are in the crosshairs of the Mexican government’s four-year crackdown.

It’s working, said Gary Hale, a former DEA intel chief who now runs Grupo Savant, a law enforcement and intelligence consulting firm.

’I've seen more high-level cartel chieftains taken down than any other time in history,’ said Hale.

’La Barbie’ is already charged with conspiracy in the US, his homeland.

But in Mexico, where he was collared, he is an illegal immigrant.

’What that means,’ said his lawyer, ’is that technically he does not have to be extradited to the United States. He could be deported from Mexico.’

But the question is: will he be?

Kent Schaffer would like to see his client prosecuted on this side of the Rio Grande, where defendants get more due process.

But the ball is in Mexico’s court.