In a sweeping move against organized crime, Mexico has extradited 26 high-ranking cartel members to the United States, marking one of the largest transfers in recent years. The action comes amid mounting pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration to dismantle powerful drug networks, including the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel.
The extradition, carried out on Tuesday, follows a significant agreement between the two nations: the U.S. Department of Justice assured that none of the defendants would face the death penalty. This diplomatic assurance paved the way for Mexico’s cooperation, underscoring the delicate balance in cross-border law enforcement relations.
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Among those handed over is Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis,” a faction closely tied to the CJNG, one of the most dangerous and rapidly expanding criminal organizations in the world.
Another notable figure, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy. Several others have direct links to the infamous Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug-trafficking groups.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, speaking on behalf of the Trump administration, praised Mexico’s cooperation, stating, “These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to Mexico’s National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.”
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This is not the first time Mexico has delivered cartel members to U.S. authorities under Trump’s presidency. Just months earlier, 29 cartel operatives were extradited, including the notorious Rafael Caro Quintero, the drug lord implicated in the 1985 murder of U.S. DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
The latest extradition underscores the intensifying U.S.-Mexico partnership in the war against transnational crime. With both nations under pressure to stem the flow of drugs, weapons, and violence across the border, these coordinated moves send a strong message to criminal networks operating in the Americas: no leader is untouchable.
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