Washington
AP
–
Mexico has expelled 26 high-ranked cartel statues to the United States in its latest major deal with the Trump administration as U.S. authorities put pressure on criminal networks sending drugs across borders.
Cartel leaders and other prominent figures said they were flying from Mexico to the US on Tuesday. They spoke in an anonymity state. Because they were not yet authorized to discuss ongoing operations.
Being handed over to US custody includes Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, leader of “Los Quinis,” which is closely aligned with the infamous Cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG. Another person, Roberto Salazar, has been accused of taking part in the 2008 murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, the person said.
The Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Security have confirmed the relocation that took place after a promise from the U.S. Department of Justice that prosecutors would not seek the death penalty in any of the cases.
Mexico has expelled cartel figures accused of drug smuggling, murder and other crimes for months amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs across the border. In February, Mexico handed over 29 cartel figures to American authorities, including the drugs of Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the murder of US DEA agents in 1985.
These relocations came a few days before the 25% tariff on Mexican imports took effect. Later last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexican President Claudia Sinbaum and agreed to postpone the 30% tariffs that were threatened for another 90 days to allow negotiations.
Sheinbaum shows a greater willingness to cooperate with security than her predecessor. But she draws a clear line on Mexico’s sovereignty and rejects suggestions for intervention by Trump and the US military.
The Trump administration has made dismantling dangerous drug cartels an important priority and has designated the CJNG and seven other Latin American organized crime groups foreign terrorist organizations.
Abigael Gonzalez Valencia is the step-brother of CJNG leader Nemesio Ruben “Elmencho” Osseguera Cervantes, the top target of the US government. He was arrested in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco in February 2015 and has since fought extradition to the US.
Alongside his two brothers, he led “Los Cuinis,” which funded the establishment and growth of CJNG, one of Mexico’s most powerful and dangerous cartels. Hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl transport to the United States and other countries, known for extreme violence, murder, torture and corruption.
One of his brothers, Jose Gonzalez Valencia, was sentenced in Washington federal court for 30 years in US prison in June after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. Jose Gonzalez Valencia was arrested under the first Trump administration at a Brazilian beach resort in 2017 and took a leave of absence with his family under a fake name.
