Washington, D.C. — In a sweeping move against organized crime, Mexico has extradited 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States, marking the second major transfer in recent months as the Trump administration intensifies its crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
Key Figures Among the 26 Extradited
According to The Associated Press, those sent to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis” and brother-in-law of CJNG cartel boss Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes — one of America’s most-wanted fugitives with a $15 million reward on his head.
Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy. Others have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and various violent drug organizations.
“These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country,” said U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “We are grateful to Mexico’s National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.”
High-Stakes Negotiations Behind the Scenes
The extradition came after the U.S. Justice Department agreed not to pursue the death penalty against these individuals, mirroring a February deal in which 29 cartel figures, including Rafael Caro Quintero, were sent to the U.S. Quintero is infamous for orchestrating the 1985 killing of a U.S. DEA agent.
“This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson. “The citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies.”
The February handover followed intense negotiations, as Mexico sought to avert a threatened 30% tariff on its exports.
Mexico’s Balancing Act on Security and Sovereignty
President Claudia Sheinbaum has shown a greater willingness to cooperate on security matters than her predecessor, pursuing cartel leaders more aggressively. However, she has rejected calls by former President Donald Trump and others for direct U.S. military intervention, citing Mexican sovereignty.
Key details from the latest transfer include:
- Servando Gómez Martinez, alias “La Tuta,” ex-head of the Knights Templar cartel, was among those sent to the U.S.
- Gómez, a former schoolteacher, once ran a quasi-religious criminal network controlling Michoacan, dictating politics, commerce, and even morality codes, all while engaging in violent crime.
Captured in 2015, Gómez was sentenced in 2019 to 55 years in a Mexican prison before being handed over.
CJNG’s Deadly Influence
Alongside his brothers, Abigael González Valencia helped finance and build the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and for its extreme violence, torture, and corruption.
One brother, José González Valencia, was sentenced in June to 30 years in a U.S. prison after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. He was arrested in 2017 at a Brazilian beach resort while traveling under a fake identity.
Cross-Border Cooperation Continues
The latest extraditions underscore a rare moment of strong cooperation between the two nations, with both sides framing the transfers as victories against transnational organized crime.
“These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts,” Johnson said, “and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer.”
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