Mexican Authorities Arrest Sinaloa Cartel Security Chief 'El Nini', Fugitive Valued at USD 3 Million

Mexican federal police illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Gioabreffilo)

JAKARTA - The Mexican National Guard on Wednesday arrested Nestor Isidro Perez Salas alias "El Nini," who is suspected of being the head of security for the Sinaloa Cartel faction led by the son of founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Considered by US anti-narcotics agents (DEA) as one of Mexico's most violent drug figures, Perez Salas was arrested in Culiacan, the heart of the Sinaloa Cartel and taken to Mexico City, according to government detention records, reported by Reuters, November 23.

Meanwhile, the US State Department accused him of working under Ivan Archivaldo Guzman to lead the "Ninis", a personal security group for the Guzman brothers, also known as "Los Chapitos".

A US court has indicted Perez Salas on a series of charges related to his alleged role as head of Chapitos' security apparatus, including cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of a machine gun, and witness retaliation.

The State Department has offered up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest.

"This guy is a complete psychopath," said Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the DEA, as quoted by ABC News from AP.

El Nini reportedly received military-style training in various areas of combat, including urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper skills.

El Nini's arrest came less than a week after US President Joe Biden met with his Mexican counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

"We work side by side to combat arms trafficking, tackle organized crime and address the opioid epidemic, including fentanyl," said President Joe Biden.

The US and Mexico also agreed with China last week to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals from the Asian country.

The Sinaloa cartel is largely responsible for the influx of large amounts 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.