An indictment unsealed on May 13 has marked a significant development in the fight against drug trafficking. It is the first in the United States to charge alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism, alongside drug trafficking charges. The investigation is being conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI.
Shawn Gibson, ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Special Agent in Charge, stated: “These charges highlight the unwavering efforts of transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel to flood our communities with deadly drugs.” He emphasized that law enforcement agencies are focused on dismantling these networks.
The indictment targets Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, key figures in the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. They face charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering. This action follows President Trump's Executive Order 14157 designating the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked: “The Sinaloa Cartel is a complex, dangerous terrorist organization and dismantling them demands a novel, powerful legal response.” She expressed intent to seek life imprisonment for those charged.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon commented on Operation Take Back America initiatives, noting: “Narco-terrorists operate as a cancer within a state... This indictment is what justice looks like when the full measure of the Department of Justice along with its law enforcement partners is brought to bear against the Sinaloa Cartel.”
FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge Houtan Moshrefi added: “BLO, under the leadership of Inzunza Noriega, is allegedly responsible for some of the largest-ever drug seizures... Their drugs not only destroy lives and communities but also threaten our national security.”
Court documents reveal that BLO has been involved in violent activities such as shootouts and kidnappings to maintain its operations across Mexico. The father-son duo allegedly leads one of the largest fentanyl production networks globally.
This case continues a tradition in California's Southern District targeting Mexican cartel leaderships. It is also notable for being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton under Case Number 25cr1505.
Defendants include individuals from various locations such as Los Mochis, Guadalajara, Guatemala City, San Jose, Nogales, and more. Charges range from narco-terrorism to money laundering conspiracy with severe penalties upon conviction.
Operation Take Back America aims to eliminate cartels through coordinated efforts involving multiple law enforcement agencies under programs like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).
The allegations remain accusations until proven otherwise in court proceedings.
