Sinaloa cartel members convicted on U.S. drug-trafficking charge

Two Guatemalan brothers with alleged ties to Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel have been convicted of international narcotics trafficking in a U.S. court, officials said on Wednesday.

Waldemar Lorenzana Cordon, 49, and Eliu Elixander Lorenzana Cordon, 43, were allegedly responsible for multi-ton shipments of Colombian cocaine to the United States, the Justice Department said in a statement.

They were convicted in Washington's U.S. District Court after a four-week trial on one count each of conspiring to import and distribute cocaine in the United States.

Trial evidence showed that the Lorenzana Cordons headed a drug trafficking organization with close ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, the statement said.

The Mexican group is one of the most powerful drug-smuggling outfits in the world. Sinaloa drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán was recaptured by Mexican authorities in January after escaping from prison.

Guatemalan authorities extradited Eliu Lorenzana Cordon to the United States in 2015. Waldemar Lorenzana Cordon was extradited in 2014.