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Mexico Arrests Ex-Chihuahua Governor César Duarte on Federal Money-Laundering Charge

The arrest stems from a May 2024 federal warrant following U.S. clearance on Dec. 4 to pursue charges beyond Duarte’s original extradition.

Overview

  • Duarte was detained in Chihuahua city around 2 p.m. local time on Dec. 8 as he left his home, acting on an arrest order issued by a federal judge in Almoloya de Juárez.
  • He was transferred Monday night to the Altiplano maximum-security prison, according to Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch.
  • The FGR says the new federal case probes an alleged scheme to hide illicit funds diverted from the state using Mexico’s financial system during his time in office.
  • Mexican authorities sought U.S. approval on Oct. 4, 2024 to expand the prosecution; authorization was granted on Dec. 4, 2025.
  • State-level prosecutions for peculado and criminal association tied to his 2020 U.S. arrest and 2022 extradition continue separately in Chihuahua.