Justice Department Urges Prompt Extradition of Notorious Cartel Criminal Arrested in Mexico
US Attorney General Merrick Garland urges Mexico to swiftly extradite Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, a reputed top assassin of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel The Justice Department seeks justice for his alleged involvement in heinous crimes, hoping to bring him to trial expeditiously
US Attorney General Merrick Garland is pushing for the immediate extradition of Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, identified by the Justice Department as a top assassin for the Sinaloa Cartel, following his apprehension in Mexico.
Pérez Salas, also known as "Nini," is described as one of the leading sicarios, or assassins, for the Sinaloa Cartel, according to a Department of Justice news release. Mexican authorities captured him on Wednesday in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
CNN has contacted the Mexican Attorney General's Office to request more information regarding the arrest, but has not yet received a response. It remains uncertain whether Pérez Salas has legal representation.
An indictment unsealed by the US Department of Justice on April 14, 2023, revealed that the Sinaloa Cartel employs military-grade weapons to carry out violence in Mexico, targeting rival traffickers, civilians, government officials, and security forces.
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Pérez Salas was accused in February 2021 of participating in a conspiracy to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine in the United States, as well as possessing machine guns and destructive devices, and retaliating against a witness. The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information that leads to his capture.
The State Department reported that Pérez Salas had direct dealings with Oscar Noé Medina González, a subordinate of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, one of the sons of JoaquÃn "El Chapo" Guzmán, who was imprisoned in the US in 2019. Additionally, Pérez Salas was allegedly in charge of the security operations for Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. He is accused of being a leader of the "Ninis" cell, which is described as a particularly violent group of security staff for Los Chapitos.
President Joe Biden praised Mexican security forces for Pérez Salas arrest on Wednesday.
The Mexican government released a video showing the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez in Culiacan, Mexico on Oct. 17, 2019. Recently, he was extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges, according to a statement made by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
El Chapo's are extradited from Mexico to the US, according to the Justice Department.
"In a statement released on November 22, Mexican security forces detained Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas (El Nini), the notorious leader of the security team for the Chapitos faction within the Sinaloa Cartel. For almost three years, El Nini has been on the most-wanted list for both Mexico and the United States, charged by the US for his involvement in violence and illegal trafficking of fentanyl into the country. The president added, "Both of our countries are safer with him in custody, facing justice for his crimes."
Biden praised the partnership between the US and Mexico in efforts to secure communities from violence, combat the cartels, and put an end to the illegal distribution of fentanyl. This comes shortly after the US reached an agreement with China on the source materials for fentanyl production. Biden also conveyed his appreciation to Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador and the Mexican Army and special forces.
He expressed gratitude to President López Obrador and the Mexican Army and special forces for their successful capture of El Nini, and commended the courageous men and women of Mexican security forces who carried out the operation.
