The document describes payments made for expedition supplies, and was signed by Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztecs.

The previously missing document was written after Cortés had been made the governor of New Spain by the Spanish crown. Mexico's national archives had counted the document among a collection of papers signed by Cortés - but found 15 pages were missing when it was put on microfilm in 1993.

Officials described United Cartels, an organization based in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, as one of the “most prolific” methamphetamine producers in the country.

The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday charged five high-ranking members of the Carteles Unidos drug gang, known in English as United Cartels, while the Treasury Department announced it was imposing sanctions on the group.

Officials described United Cartels, based in the western Mexican state of Michoacán, as one of the “most prolific” methamphetamine producers in the country.

Mexico sent 26 alleged cartel figures to face justice in the United States because the Trump administration requested them and Mexico did not want them to continue running their illicit businesses from Mexican prisons,

The transfer follows news that President Trump ordered the Pentagon to begin using military force against certain Latin American drug cartels.