Dozens Of Mexican Drug Cartel Fugitives Extradited To Face American Justice

Over two dozen fugitives from Mexico, accused of drug trafficking, murder, and kidnapping, were extradited to the United States on Tuesday. 

Those extradited include men linked to Mexican drug cartels that have been classified as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. They now face criminal charges, including drug trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, gun crimes, human smuggling, money laundering, and murder. 

“Today is the latest example of the Trump administration’s historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “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. We are grateful to Mexico’s National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.”  

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Almost all of the fugitives face life in prison if convicted in federal court. The Justice Department said the men were collectively responsible for smuggling tons of cocaine, meth, fentanyl, and heroin into the United States. 

“This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity,” U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said. “These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies.”

Several of the men were members of the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), and Cártel del Noreste, all terrorist designated cartels, according to the Justice Department. 

One of those extradited, Robert Salazar, was wanted in connection with the murder of  Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Escalante in 2008. Escalante was shot by two gang members outside his home before he left for work. 

Another one of those handed over to American authorities was Abdul Karim Conteh, a Sierra Leone national accused of smuggling illegal immigrants from Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Somalia, Cameroon, Senegal, Mauritania, Ethiopia, and Egypt into the United States. 

Luis Raul Castro Valenzuela, a Sinaloa Cartel member set to face American justice, is charged with kidnapping and holding hostage an American, the Justice Department said. 

The extradition agreement with Mexico coincides with a report from last week that President Donald Trump had quietly signed an order to use military force against drug cartels in foreign countries. Mexico has resisted suggestions that the American military be deployed on the ground to crack down on the cartels. 

“We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said. “That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out,” she continued. “It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said no.”