The United States is seeking to immediately extradite a man officials believe previously headed security for the faction of the Sinaloa cartel led by the sons of founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” was arrested by Mexican security forces on Nov. 22, according to a statement from the White House.
Mr. Pérez Salas was detained in Culiacan, the Sinaloa Cartel’s heartlands, and was taken to Mexico City, government detention records show.
U.S. officials allege that Mr. Pérez Salas was one of the most ruthless drug figures in Mexico and worked directly for Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar to lead the “Ninis,” a violent group of security personnel for the Guzman brothers, also known as “Los Chapitos.”
According to the State Department, Mr. Pérez Salas worked for Mr. Guzmán Salazar’s principal deputy, Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez, and was directly responsible for the Chapitos’ security apparatus for Sinaloa Cartel security in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
Mr. Pérez Salas was also one of the leaders and commanders of the Ninis, officials said.
U.S. courts have indicted Mr. Pérez Salas on a string of charges over the years, including cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and witness retaliation.
In April, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York also indicted him on multiple charges including engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, and fentanyl trafficking and importation.
Cartel Security Boss to Face ‘Justice’
The State Department had offered up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest.In a statement on Thursday, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said officials are seeking Mr. Pérez Salas’s swift extradition from Mexico to “face justice here in the United States.”
“Until his apprehension, El Nini led security operations for the Chapitos and we allege that he and his security forces murdered, tortured, and kidnapped rivals, witnesses, and others who opposed the Chapitos,” Mr. Garland said.
Mr. Pérez Salas’s arrest came less than a week after President Joe Biden met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in San Francisco last week.
The U.S. president thanked his Mexican counterpart in a statement on Thursday while praising the “brave” men and women of the Mexican army and special forces who successfully captured Mr. Pérez Salas.
“For nearly three years, El Nini has been one of Mexico’s and the United States’ most wanted criminals, indicted by the United States for his roles in perpetrating violence and illicit fentanyl trafficking into the United States, and both our countries are safer with him behind bars and facing justice for his crimes,” President Biden said.
President Biden noted Mr. Pérez Salas’s arrest came after Mexican authorities captured another Chapitos leader, Ovidio Guzmán López, earlier this year.
Sinaloa Cartel Behind Fentanyl Influx
The son of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman; Mr. Guzmán López was extradited to the United States in September to face fentanyl trafficking and money laundering charges. He pleaded not guilty.The three other Guzman brothers who officials believe are leaders of Los Chapitos, including the figurehead, Ivan, remain free.
“These arrests are a testament to the commitment between the United States and Mexico to secure our communities against violence, counter the cartels, and end the scourge of illicit fentanyl that is hurting so many families,” President Biden said.
“We will continue working as strong partners to do everything possible to hold criminals accountable for jeopardizing public health and safety in our two countries. As I told President Andrés Manuel López Obrador when we met in San Francisco on November 17, nothing is beyond our reach when Mexico and the United States stand together,” he concluded.
The Sinaloa Cartel is largely responsible for the huge influx of fentanyl into the United States in recent years, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The potent synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. As little as two milligrams is potentially enough to be lethal.
The United States and Mexico agreed with China last week to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals from the Asian country.
