Arnoldo Vargas

Arnoldo Vargas was a Guatemalan politician and former mayor of Zacapa, known for his ties to narcotrafficking and his eventual extradition to the United States in 1992. He was a prominent figure in the Unión del Centro Nacional party and was implicated in significant drug trafficking operations, including the possession of large quantities of cocaine and an arsenal of weapons found at his residence. His political career began in the mid-1980s, but it was marred by criminal activities linked to powerful drug cartels, notably the Medellín Cartel. After serving 25 years in U.S. prisons, Vargas returned to Guatemala in 2017, where he was met with a celebratory welcome despite his notorious past.