Mexico warns Israel of the consequences of not extraditing the former head of the Criminal Investigation Agency

Mexico has warned Israel that the lack of progress in efforts to extradite a wanted person in connection with a case representing the worst human rights violations in the Latin country threatens relations between Mexico City and Tel Aviv.

Mexico has repeatedly demanded that Israel hand over the former head of the Criminal Investigation Agency, Thomas Zeron, who is accused of committing serious violations in the investigation related to the disappearance of 43 students in the south of the country in 2014. Zeron denies allegations of kidnapping suspects in the case of the students’ disappearance, torturing them, tampering with evidence, and embezzling public funds.

Mexico demands the extradition of Zeron, despite the absence of a treaty to exchange wanted persons between the two countries.

The Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “The lack of progress in resolving this issue is interpreted as de facto protection by the Israeli government for Thomas Zero, and threatens to turn into a factor of disturbance and disruption with Israel.”

Vaziron is one of the architects of the so-called “historical truth,” which is the official version presented by the government in January 2015 about the mysterious case of the disappearance of students and rejected by the families of the victims.

The students were on their way to participate in a demonstration in Mexico City when they were kidnapped, investigators believe, by a drug gang in collusion with corrupt police officials.

The exact circumstances of the students' disappearance are still unknown, but a committee formed by the government to uncover the truth described the case as a "state crime" and considered that the army bears responsibility, directly or through negligence.