MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US tries to lower bilateral tension following the arrest of a former defense minister on drug charges

Mexico says it should have had prior warning about the arrest and investigation of the former minister and retired army officer, Salvador Cienfuegos

U.S. Attorney General William Barr spoke with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard last week to try to lower bilateral tension arising from the U.S. arrest of a former Mexican defense minister on drug charges, two Mexican sources said on Monday.

Mexico says it should have had prior warning about the arrest and investigation of the former minister and retired army officer, Salvador Cienfuegos, who pleaded not guilty to drug charges in a Brooklyn federal court last week.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he will announce a review of security cooperation agreements with the United States in light of the case.

Cienfuegos, a top player in Mexico's war on drug gangs until two years ago, is accused of using the power of his office to help a relatively small drug gang, former allies of the Sinaloa Cartel, manufacture and ship drugs including cocaine and heroin to the United States.