KRGV.com

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) The nephew of the former boss of Mexico's Gulf drug cartel and longtime friend of Juan Roberto Rincon-Rincon testified Thursday about the life of time they both shared until they became rivals.

Rafael Cardenas Vela is the nephew of former Gulf cartel boss Osdiel Cardenas Guillen. The San Antonio Express-News (http://bit.ly/PFqnFD) reports he testified in the trial of a man federal prosecutors say moved marijuana and cocaine through South Texas as the cartel's plaza boss.

Cardenas Vela pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine and marijuana in exchange for the government dropping money laundering and immigration charges in March. He and Rincon-Rincon were arrested in South Texas, where they sought refuge from rivals.

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Information from: San Antonio Express-News, http://www.mysanantonio.com