Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as "El Nini," a leading assassin for the Sinaloa Cartel and head of security for its leadership, has been arrested by Mexican authorities. The U.S. government, under Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, is pushing for a swift extradition so that Pérez Salas can face trial on American soil.
"Until his apprehension, El Nini led security operations for the Chapitos and we allege that he and his security forces murdered, tortured, and kidnapped rivals, witnesses, and others who opposed the Chapitos. Shortly after the apprehension of El Nini, I spoke with Mexican Attorney General Gertz to thank him for the extraordinary efforts of the Mexican authorities who made the arrest, and to whom we are all grateful for their courage. We are now seeking El Nini’s swift extradition from Mexico to face justice here in the United States," said Merrick B. Garland.
Pérez Salas' arrest was executed by the Mexican National Guard on November 22 in Culiacán, Sinaloa as reported by CNN. Earlier this year, U.S charged him with multiple crimes including conspiracy to traffic cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices along with witness retaliation. He is recognized as a leading figure in Los Chapitos’ security cell renowned for its violence.
Federal Newswire previously reported that post-arrest of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman—the leader of Sinaloa Cartel—his four sons assumed control over significant parts of the cartel's operations under Los Chapitos banner. They have particularly marked their presence in synthetic drug production like fentanyl.
In September 2021,Ovidio Guzmán López—one of El Chapo’s sons—was extradited swiftly by Mexico to face trial in U.S., a process which has been deemed fast-tracked following Pérez Salas’ arrest. His siblings are currently high on the priority list for arrest.
NBC News reported that President Joe Biden met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador a week prior to Pérez Salas’ arrest. Following the arrest, the efforts of Mexican authorities were highly praised by President Biden.
There have been reports suggesting that Sinaloa Cartel has banned fentanyl production in Mexico's Sinaloa state. The remaining three Chapitos, facing the pressure of possible arrests and extraditions, are said to be attempting to reduce the pressure from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies. However, it is yet unclear whether this step is anything more than a temporary PR move.
