Arrest of El Nini: Mexico Extradites Sinaloa Cartel Assassin to US
Mexico Extradites Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Assassin to US
In a significant move to tackle drug trafficking across the Mexico-US border, Mexican authorities have extradited Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as El Nini, a key figure in the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel, to the United States.
Prosecutors have labeled El Nini as a “lead assassin” working for the sons of the infamous drug kingpin JoaquÃn Guzmán, popularly known as El Chapo. The US has long sought his extradition on charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses, all of which he vehemently denies.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland has accused El Nini of being involved in the Sinaloa cartel’s production and distribution of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid responsible for countless deaths in the US each year. Garland further alleges that El Nini was one of the cartel’s contract killers, responsible for the murder, torture, and abduction of rivals and witnesses.
The extradition of El Nini is part of a joint effort between US and Mexican authorities to curb the influx of fentanyl into the US, a drug that has claimed the lives of tens of thousands. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has also highlighted the involvement of El Chapo’s sons, including Ovidio Guzmán López, in the cartel’s drug trafficking operations.
With El Nini now in US custody, the focus turns to other key figures in the Sinaloa cartel, including El Chapo’s remaining sons who are still at large. The extradition signifies a crucial step in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.