Mexico’s National Guard Arrests Alleged Sinaloa Drug Cartel Security Chief
Mexican authorities have made a major breakthrough in the fight against drug cartels with the arrest of Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” the alleged security chief for the “Chapitos” wing of the Sinaloa drug cartel. This arrest, which occurred on Wednesday in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state, has been welcomed by U.S. President Joe Biden on Thanksgiving Day.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had previously posted a $3 million reward for the capture of Pérez Salas, who is wanted on U.S. charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl in the United States. He is also alleged to have left a trail of murder and torture in Mexico.
Former head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Mike Vigil, described Pérez Salas as a “complete psychopath” and emphasized the positive impact of his removal from the drug operation in Mexico.
Pérez Salas was responsible for protecting the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and assisting in their drug business. The Chapitos faction of the cartel, led by Guzmán’s sons, has been identified as one of the main exporters of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, to the U.S. market. Fentanyl has been attributed to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the United States.
The arrest of Pérez Salas is a significant milestone in the battle against the Sinaloa drug cartel, known for its brutal tactics and violent operations. The indictment released earlier this year by the U.S. Justice Department outlined Pérez Salas’s involvement in various gruesome acts of violence, including torture and murder.
President Joe Biden expressed his gratitude to Mexican authorities for the successful arrest and acknowledged the continued coordination between the United States and Mexico in combating drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl. The arrest of Pérez Salas comes less than a week after President Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador met and pledged to work more closely on this critical issue.
The timing of the arrest, which closely follows previous high-profile apprehensions within the Sinaloa cartel, has raised questions about potential underlying motives. However, the capture of Pérez Salas marks a significant victory in the efforts to dismantle the operations of the notorious drug cartel.
As the investigation and legal proceedings continue, the arrest of Pérez Salas is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the United States and Mexico in targeting the leaders and key figures involved in drug trafficking and organized crime.