Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” has been extradited to the U.S. to face drug, gun, and witness retaliation charges. He is accused of being a top assassin for the Sinaloa drug cartel and was responsible for the murder, torture, and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel’s criminal drug trafficking enterprise. The sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, known as the Chapitos, lead a faction that is one of the main exporters of fentanyl to the U.S., resulting in approximately 70,000 overdose deaths per year.
President Joe Biden thanked Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for extraditing Pérez Salas and stated that both governments will continue to work together to combat the fentanyl and synthetic drug epidemic that is causing numerous deaths in both countries. The extradition of Pérez Salas is a significant step in bringing justice to the criminals and organizations producing, smuggling, and selling these lethal poisons. Authorities have identified Pérez Salas as a leader and commander of a group that provided security for the Chapitos and assisted in their drug operations.
At the time of his arrest last November, Pérez Salas was described as a complete psychopath by former head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Mike Vigil. Pérez Salas commanded a violent security team known as the Ninis, who received military-style training in areas of combat, including urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper proficiency. The Ninis were involved in gruesome acts of violence, such as torturing a Mexican federal agent in 2017 by inserting a corkscrew into his muscles and placing hot chilies in the wounds.
Court records did not list an attorney for Pérez Salas, who might comment on his behalf. The U.S. Department of Justice had previously announced charges against cartel leaders and posted a $3 million reward for the capture of Pérez Salas. The Ninis, led by Pérez Salas, would take captured rivals to ranches owned by the Chapitos for execution. Some victims were fed to tigers raised by the Chapitos as pets. The extradition of Pérez Salas to the U.S. signifies a crackdown on the violent activities of the Sinaloa drug cartel and its leaders, who have been responsible for numerous crimes related to drug trafficking and violence.
The involvement of Pérez Salas in the activities of the Sinaloa cartel highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and violence in both Mexico and the United States. The extradition of a top cartel assassin like Pérez Salas is a significant development in the efforts to combat the drug epidemic and bring to justice those responsible for the distribution of lethal drugs like fentanyl. The collaboration between the two governments in extraditing cartel members and leaders is crucial in dismantling criminal organizations and preventing further harm caused by the illegal drug trade.
