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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Mexican Beauty Queen Busted With Drug Mobsters

Miss Hispanic America found traveling with cartel's Mr. Big in gun-filled truck

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(Newser) – Miss Hispanic America 2008 will be finishing this year in jail after cops busted her traveling with seven alleged drug cartel mobsters, the Houston Chronicle reports. Laura Zuniga, from the drug-plagued state of Sinaloa, was stopped at a military checkpoint near Guadalajara in a truck full of guns, ammunition and cash. She told police she and her pals were going on "a shopping trip" to Bolivia and Colombia.

The beauty queen's boyfriend—a kingpin in the Juarez drug cartel—was arrested along with her. Police did not disclose what charges Zuniga faces. Officials of the organization that ran the beauty contests Zuniga won said they had had no idea she had ties to the underworld—and would decide after an investigation whether she could keep her crown.

In this image composite, Laura Zuniga is crowned as Miss Sinaloa State at left , and is shown to the press with unidentified gunmen after her arrest in Zapopan, Mexico, yesterday.
In this image composite, Laura Zuniga is crowned as Miss Sinaloa State at left , and is shown to the press with unidentified gunmen after her arrest in Zapopan, Mexico, yesterday.   (AP Photo)
Laura Zuniga is crowned Miss Sinaloa 2008 at the Pacific resort city Mazatlan in July. Zuniga, a 23-year-old model, has been arrested at a military checkpoint traveling with drug mobsters.
Laura Zuniga is crowned Miss Sinaloa 2008 at the Pacific resort city Mazatlan in July. Zuniga, a 23-year-old model, has been arrested at a military checkpoint traveling with drug mobsters.   (AP Photo)
From swimsuit to hancuffs, the 2008 beauty queen of the drug-plagued state of Sinaloa, Laura Zuniga, is shown to the press after she was busted with a drug gang.
From swimsuit to hancuffs, the 2008 beauty queen of the drug-plagued state of Sinaloa, Laura Zuniga, is shown to the press after she was busted with a drug gang.   (AP Photo)
Laura Zuniga poses in swimsuit during the Miss Sinaloa beauty pageant at the Pacific resort city of Mazatlan, Mexico, in July.
Laura Zuniga poses in swimsuit during the Miss Sinaloa beauty pageant at the Pacific resort city of Mazatlan, Mexico, in July.   (AP Photo)
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2 comments
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Shannonals
Dec 27, 08 2:48 PM CST
C'mon, after all these years, with all the dirt that comes out after someone wins a crown, organizations still aren't vetting? Reply
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sailor86
Dec 29, 08 7:16 AM CST
I suppose someone could go shopping in Bolivia and Colombia innocently enough. Reply
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