The United States Wants to Extradite Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Security Chief El Nini from Mexico
JAKARTA - The United States is seeking the extradition of Nestor Isidro Perez Salas alias "El Nini" from Mexico, said US Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday.
El Nini is accused of being the security chief of the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by the son of Sinaloa Cartel founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
The Mexican National Guard on Wednesday arrested Perez Salas. He is viewed by US anti-narcotics agents as one of Mexico's most violent drug figures.
Perez Salas was captured in Culiacan, the heart of the Sinaloa Cartel's territory, and taken to Mexico City, according to government detention records.
"Shortly after El Nini's arrest, I spoke with Mexican Attorney General Gertz to express my gratitude for the extraordinary efforts of the Mexican authorities who carried out the arrest," said Attorney General Garland in a statement, reported by Reuters, November 24.
"We are now seeking the speedy extradition of El Nini from Mexico to stand trial in the United States," he continued.
The arrests came less than a week after US President Joe Biden met with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Perez Salas was accused by the US Department of State of working under Ivan Archivaldo Guzman to lead the "Ninis", a group of violent security personnel for the Guzman brothers, also known as "Los Chapitos".
A US court has indicted Perez Salas on a series of charges in connection with his alleged role as Los Chapitos' security chief, including cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, machine gun possession and witness retaliation.
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It is known that the State Department has offered a reward of up to 3 million US dollars for information leading to his arrest.
The Sinaloa Cartel is largely responsible for a large influx of fentanyl into the US in recent years, the DEA alleges.
In January, Mexican authorities arrested Ovidio Guzman and extradited him to the United States in September. Meanwhile, three other members of the Guzman brothers who are suspected of being Los Chapitos leaders, including their figure, Ivan, are still at large.