U.S. Drug Trafficker Faces Life in Prison After Cartel Ties

Cancún, Mexico — The arrest of Italian-American citizen Vincenzo "Vincent" Salzano in Cancún and his subsequent transfer to Mexico City was carried out at the request of the United States government due to his alleged involvement in repeated illicit activities linked to drug trafficking.

Extradition and Charges

Sources within Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) confirmed that Salzano, detained by the Federal Ministerial Police in mid-June at a residential complex in Cancún, will soon be handed over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The DEA reportedly possesses substantial evidence that Salzano continues to operate drug trafficking operations into U.S. territory under the protection of the Sinaloa Cartel, led by Ovidio Guzmán, son of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.

Legal Consequences

Due to his prior criminal record, Salzano could face aggravated penalties for recidivism under U.S. federal law. Title 21, Section 841(b)(1)(A) of the U.S. Code mandates that a second conviction for drug trafficking may result in a mandatory life sentence, fines of up to $20 million, and the elimination of parole eligibility.

The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines classify Salzano as a "career offender," meaning his prior convictions will significantly increase his sentence. Additionally, U.S. authorities will seize all assets tied to his criminal activities, including properties, vehicles, bank accounts, and businesses such as gyms and restaurants in Playa del Carmen, Cancún, and Tulum.

Previous Conviction

In 2014, interim U.S. Attorney Walt Green charged Salzano with attempting to transport over 32 kilograms of cocaine via a private plane through Baton Rouge Airport. Court documents allege that on October 7, 2013, Salzano met with accomplices and boarded a private aircraft under his control, which had previously flown to Atlanta at his direction. The following day, he allegedly flew from Atlanta to McAllen, Texas, where he obtained approximately 30 packages of cocaine before reboarding the plane.

The aircraft refueled in Baton Rouge, where law enforcement arrested Salzano. The investigation involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Louisiana State Police, and other agencies.

In December 2014, Salzano was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine. Authorities also confiscated the aircraft and related assets.

Recent Allegations

Eight years after his release in 2021, Salzano is again implicated in drug trafficking, money laundering, and other narcotics-related crimes, now allegedly tied to the Sinaloa Cartel. Despite establishing two real estate companies—Caribe Investment Properties and Grand Enterprise—neither remains operational. However, investigators suspect he continues managing real estate ventures through proxies in Playa del Carmen, Cancún, Tulum, and Yucatán.

After serving his prison term, Salzano returned to Quintana Roo, where he remained under surveillance until 2024 before allegedly resuming illegal activities. Following a year of gathering evidence, the DEA requested his arrest, which was executed in mid-June in a surgical operation in Cancún before his transfer to Mexico City.

Salzano now awaits extradition to the U.S., where he could face life imprisonment if convicted.