Guatemalan presidential candidate arrested in Miami for soliciting money from a ...

A Guatemalan politician who had dreams of becoming his nation's next president was arrested in Miami for allegedly promising Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel full access to his country's ports and airports for their drug trafficking in return for them funding his political campaign.

The candidate, Mario Estrada, 58, and an alleged accomplice, Juan Pablo González, 50, were both taken in by law enforcement agents on Wednesday.

Both men were charged with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and a related weapons offense. If convicted, they could spend up to life in prison. 

Estrada and González were scheduled to appear Thursday before a federal magistrate in Miami on charges brought in New York, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a release.

'Estrada and Gonzalez conspired to solicit Sinaloa Cartel money to finance a corrupt scheme to elect Estrada president of Guatemala,' Berman said.

The Sinaloa Cartel was once headed by Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán before he was extradited to the United States.

Guatemalan presidential candidate Mario Estrada (pictured) was arrested by U.S. authorities in Miami on Wednesday. He was allegedly seeking financial campaign assistance from Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for future favors

Guatemalan presidential candidate Mario Estrada (pictured) was arrested by U.S. authorities in Miami on Wednesday. He was allegedly seeking financial campaign assistance from Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for future favors

Juan Pablo González (pictured second from left) joined Guatemalan presidential hopeful Mario Estrada's political party two years ago and holds the title of deputy secretary.

Juan Pablo González (pictured second from left) joined Guatemalan presidential hopeful Mario Estrada's political party two years ago and holds the title of deputy secretary.

Mario Estrada founded the National Change Union party. It holds just six seats in the 158-member Congress

Mario Estrada founded the National Change Union party. It holds just six seats in the 158-member Congress

'In return, the two allegedly promised to assist the cartel in using Guatemalan ports and airports to export tons of cocaine into the U.S.'

The presidential hopeful's apprehension took place a day after a meet-and-greet with future voters in the department of Chiquimula. 

Estrada had told his running mate he was traveling to Miami to spend Holy Week and that he would return home Easter Sunday. 

The former congressman was far behind in recent presidential polls, with less than 3 percent support in one recent survey. 

The National Change Union party, which

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