Posted on 02/03/2006 1:46:31 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
The drawn faces and melancholy expressions in the Mexican consulate here Thursday reflected the sadness surrounding the now-permanent delay of Cónsul Justiniano Menchaca Fuentes.
Reyna Kat Olson, Del Rio consulate director of Mexican Communities Abroad, established media opportunities to meet and interview the Mexican consul recently appointed to his post here.
Menchaca was to replace Cónsul Roberto Canseco who departed the position in Del Rio in July 2005.
The Jan. 27 press conference was abruptly cancelled without explanation.
“At this point, he’s not coming,” said Kat Olson Thursday, urging the News-Herald to discuss the matter with Cónsul Adscrito (designate) Fernando J. Valdés Vicencio. Valdés was immediately available.
“It’s been cancelled because of an incident that happened with his wife and his son’s girlfriend,” Valdés said, confirming the premise that Menchaca has been “recalled” from the Foreign Service, and has returned to Mexico City as is traditional in Mexico.
On Jan. 24, Menchaca, 48, was in the process of transiting from his consulate office in Presidio, Texas, about 50 miles west of Big Bend National Park, when his wife, Patricia, and his son’s girlfriend, Eloisa Muñoz Torres, attempted to leave the United States for a visit in Mexico.
At the Mexican port of entry in Ojinaga, Chihuahua, Mexico, federal customs officials discovered that Muñoz Torres was in possession of 38 kilograms (about 84 pounds) of marijuana.
Both women were immediately arrested, and taken into Mexican custody.
But, the ugly scenario began with another family member, Menchaca’s son, Justo, believed to be in his early 20s.
“His son has an addiction,” Valdés explained, adding his belief that Justo Menchaca arranged for the cross-border transfer of the marijuana without the knowledge of his mother or girlfriend.
Patricia Menchaca was almost immediately released, Valdés said, and Muñoz Torres was released shortly thereafter.
At an unknown point in the timeline, Justo Menchaca traveled to Ojinaga, contacted police and accepted full responsibility for the crime.
According to Valdés, Justo Menchaca is currently in prison in Ciudad Chihuahua, capitol of the state by the same name, about 230 miles south of El Paso, Texas.
Valdés lamented the entire episode, including the potentially ruined career of Cónsul Menchaca.
“He’s an experienced and respected member of our Foreign Service,” Valdés said.
In a peculiar circumstance of internal agency secrecy, Valdés said that nine days passed before he and his staff were apprised of any reason for the delay, Wednesday.
He said he was reminded again of both the magnitude and impact of cross-border drug trafficking, showing little regard for social standing or family connections.
“I think that it’s a huge problem,” said Valdés, “but we continue to work the way we have since the departure of Licenciado Canseco almost seven months ago.
“We hope that the incident that happened to the son of a Mexican consul doesn’t change the working relationships between Mexican and U.S. authorities in this region,” Valdés said.
“His son has an addiction,” Valdés explained,
so when he travels, his personal stash is 84 pounds?
Must be a chain smoker.
They failed to mention that the addiction isn't to drugs but to money.
The son and the Father. How stupid are they? The only two people alive who can't find Marijuana in Mexico.
lol
84 pounds? Caramba! Justo is "addicted" to pot? That will come as a surprise to some. ("some": any and every one who has ever smoked pot.)
Was he transporting it in a stolen American SUV?
"so when he travels, his personal stash is 84 pounds?"
His girlfriend and mom had it in their car - but didn't know they had it?!;^)
Hey now, you reckon they thought that hemp was for making a rope or something? Wow....84 pounds of pot!
Yes, but that's only the crappy "brown mexicali" stuff. This was the George Carlin special, "toledo windowbox."
Primo buds, man!
Hey, you're not a narc, are you? Want a hit?
The son and the Father. How stupid are they?
At least the son is pretty stupid. He's a stoner.
Pot Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Aye carramba, how many more of you Norte Americanos had even an inkling of this working relationship with Mexico anywhere below or above the border?
It is news to me and a lie everywhere else!
You see what can happen when a lie isn't challenged, it wiggles around til it becomes the truth defacto!
84 pounds of pot in the trunk, 84 pounds of pot...take a bud down, pass it around, 83.75 pounds of pot in the trunk. Y'all can't make this up!
We've been saying that for a coupla years now. I can't wait for the MSM to jump all over this one....
Chirp...chirp...
Coals to Newcastle.
(((crickets)))
They must not have any pot south of the border.
Reality is for people who can't handle drugs.
Back in my less law-abiding days, we worked this thing the other way around.
Carrying coal to Newcastle, like some one just beat me to saying!
This just strikes me as bizarre .... along the lines of someone taking sand to Florida or cheese to Wisconsin.
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