Israel Vallarta Cisneros was acquitted and released after nearly 20 years in the Altiplano federal prison without a formal sentence. A federal judge in Toluca, Mariana Vieyra Valdés, ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove his guilt in the kidnapping of six individuals and his alleged leadership of the criminal group "Los Zodiacos." Vallarta's detention in 2005 was part of a controversial televised operation orchestrated by Carlos Loret de Mola and former security official Genaro García Luna, which has been widely criticized as a media setup. The case was marked by allegations of torture during his arrest and procedural irregularities. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez confirmed the absolution and highlighted the irregularities and the political context of Vallarta's detention during Felipe Calderón's administration and the war on drugs. Vallarta, who was detained alongside French citizen Florence Cassez—who was released in 2013 for due process violations—called for justice for those wrongfully imprisoned and expressed his intent to confront Loret de Mola about the televised montage. The government has acknowledged the case as emblematic of flaws in the Mexican justice system. Vallarta declined an earlier offer of pardon, insisting on the continuation of the judicial process. His release has reopened discussions on legal reforms and accountability for wrongful detentions in Mexico.