Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance C. Cole announced that an indictment has been unsealed charging Ivan Valerio Sainz Salazar, also known as “Mantecas,” with importing fentanyl and related firearms offenses. The charges are linked to his alleged role in producing fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel and importing it into the United States. The Mexican government reported that Sainz Salazar and associates were arrested in Badiraguato, Sinaloa on January 19, 2026.
“As alleged, Sainz Salazar served as a major producer of the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl shipments bound for the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl kills, and violent dealers in fentanyl must be taken off our streets. Today’s charges target a major producer behind the Chapitos’ supply chain and underscore the commitment of the women and men of our Office to holding traffickers at all levels of the production and distribution chain accountable.”
“Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat this nation has ever confronted, and today’s indictment makes that unmistakably clear,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “The Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization - ran an enterprise protected by armed sicarios and military-grade weapons, producing millions of counterfeit pills that have killed many people, and leaving devastation in their wake. This is not just alleged drug trafficking. Fentanyl is a weapon used to destroy lives. The DEA is dismantling these networks from the top down, and we will not relent until the laboratories are shut, the traffickers are behind bars, and these cartel organizations are destroyed piece by piece.”
According to allegations in the indictment, the Sinaloa Cartel is considered one of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartels and is responsible for manufacturing much of the fentanyl imported into the United States. Fentanyl is described as a synthetic opioid more than 50 times stronger than heroin; it has caused significant harm across American communities.
The group known as “the Chapitos,” sons of former cartel leader “El Chapo,” have led what authorities describe as one of its most powerful factions. Their operations reportedly relied on armed enforcers called sicarios who used military-grade weapons smuggled from the United States to protect cartel interests through violence.
From at least 2022 through 2025, prosecutors allege that Sainz Salazar played a key role as a fentanyl producer for this faction—helping manufacture millions of pills on their behalf—and attended meetings involving arms-carrying security personnel while reporting to high-ranking lieutenants within the organization.
In 2023, according to authorities, control over fentanyl production was consolidated at labs operated by Sainz Salazar and his associates under orders from cartel leadership.
Sainz Salazar faces multiple charges: conspiracy to import fentanyl into the United States (with penalties ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment), conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute fentanyl (also carrying up to life imprisonment), using or possessing machine guns or destructive devices in connection with these activities (carrying at least 30 years up to life), among others.
Sentencing guidelines are set by Congress but will ultimately be determined by a judge if there is a conviction.
Jay Clayton acknowledged contributions from various DEA divisions—including Special Operations Division’s Bilateral Investigations Unit—as well as support from offices based in San Diego and Hermosillo, Mexico.
The prosecution is managed by attorneys Jane Y. Chong, Sarah L. Kushner, and David J. Robles from the National Security and International Narcotics Unit.
All charges listed remain allegations unless proven otherwise; defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in court.
