United States receives 26 cartel leaders from Mexico in second significant prisoner transfer of 2022
In a significant move for U.S.-Mexico law enforcement collaboration, 26 high-ranking members of major Mexican drug cartels have been transferred to the United States. These individuals, who include leaders and managers of dangerous drug cartels, are accused of a broad range of serious offenses, such as drug trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering, and murder.
Among the extradited are notable figures like Abigael González Valencia, brother-in-law of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, and Servando Gómez, former leader of the Knights Templar cartel. Juan Carlos Félix Gastélum, son-in-law of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, is also on the list.
The transferred individuals are wanted in connection with various crimes across multiple U.S. states, including California, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Virginia, Illinois, Arizona, and Alaska. For instance, Juan Carlos Sanchez Gaytan, a fugitive wanted for large-scale marijuana and cocaine trafficking conspiracy, has appeared in federal court in Arizona and is facing trial in Texas.
Abdul Karim Conteh, who allegedly led a human smuggling organization that smuggled thousands of migrants to the United States through Mexico, is another name on the list. Leobardo García Corrales, believed to be an important figure in the Sinaloa Cartel who has trafficked kilogram quantities of fentanyl into the United States, is also among the extradited.
Notably, the transfer includes Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, a violent Tijuana Plaza boss who has operated with impunity during the last 15 years and is alleged to have supplied thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine to distributors and cells located throughout San Diego and Los Angeles.
The transfers were conducted under Mexico’s National Security Law with the U.S. Department of Justice committing not to seek the death penalty for the transferred suspects. This is the second large transfer of such cartel figures this year, following a previous extradition in February that included Rafael Caro Quintero.
The U.S. Embassy in Mexico has commended the transfer, with the DEA chief, Terry Cole, stating that it is "a significant step in DEA's ongoing effort to dismantle cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations." United States Ambassador to Mexico Ron Johnson also praised the move, saying that it is "yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity."
The full detailed list of all 26 names has not been publicly released by Mexican authorities but is held by the U.S. Department of Justice, which confirmed the identity of some key figures and their affiliations. The transfer of these organized crime figures marks a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to dismantle foreign terrorist organizations and combat drug trafficking.
- The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that Juan Carlos Félix Gastélum, son-in-law of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, is among the 26 high-ranking members of Mexican drug cartels transferred to the United States.
- In general-news and crime-and-justice sectors, Abdul Karim Conteh, who allegedly led a human smuggling organization, and Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuno, a Tijuana Plaza boss accused of supplying large quantities of drugs, are now wanted in U.S. courts following their extradition from Mexico.
- As part of the North American collaboration to dismantle drug cartels and combat crime, the transfer of these 26 cartel figures, including Abigael González Valencia and Servando Gómez, has been significant, according to the DEA chief, Terry Cole.
