U.S. Harbors Doctor of Dead Cocaine Kingpin

WASHINGTON —  The United States has given refuge to a doctor involved in a botched plastic surgery operation on a Mexican drug lord who died afterward, it was reported Saturday.

U.S. officials confirmed to the Washington Post that Pedro Rincon and his family were clandestinely taken to the United States in November and put under the witness protection program.

The drug kingpin, Amado Carrillo Fuentes--nicknamed “the Lord of the Skies” for his ability to move huge shipments of cocaine in retired jetliners--died after major plastic surgery in July.

Two other doctors involved in the operation were tortured and killed and their bodies stuffed into concrete-filled steel drums, the Post said.

According to the newspaper, U.S. sources familiar with Rincon’s statements said he maintained that Carrillo’s death was the result of medical failures and that the drug lord had hepatitis when they operated.

However, Mexican officials say Carrillo’s death was part of a plot by rival drug gangs or enemies within his organization.