Alleged Sinaloa Cartel leader and lead assassin, Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, also known as El Nini, 32, was extradited from Mexico to the United States on May 25 to face charges contained in two indictments.
“Today, El Nini joins the growing list of cartel leaders and associates extradited to the United States and held accountable in an American courtroom,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We allege El Nini was one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s lead sicarios, or assassins, and was responsible for the murder, torture, and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel’s criminal drug trafficking enterprise. This includes killing a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential source and killing others in retaliation for the confidential source’s cooperation. We also allege El Nini was a part of the Sinaloa Cartel’s production and sale of fentanyl, including in the United States. I am grateful to our Mexican government counterparts for their extraordinary efforts in apprehending and extraditing El Nini. The Justice Department will always be relentless in its pursuit of the cartels responsible for flooding our communities with fentanyl and other drugs.”
The first indictment, filed in the District of Columbia by the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), charges Pérez Salas with cocaine and methamphetamine importation, firearms offenses, and conspiracy to obstruct justice through murder. The second indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), charges Pérez Salas with leadership of a continuing criminal enterprise resulting in numerous deaths—including that of a DEA confidential source—fentanyl importation and trafficking, obstruction of justice by murdering an informant, kidnapping resulting in eight deaths including a minor boy, firearms offenses, and money laundering.
Pérez Salas was arrested in Culiacan, Mexico by Mexican authorities on Nov. 22, 2023. He was presented on charges contained in the SDNY indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.
According to court documents, the Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico's most powerful drug cartels responsible for a substantial portion of fentanyl distributed in the United States—a synthetic opioid over 50 times more potent than heroin which is currently leading cause death among Americans aged 18-49 years old. The cartel has been led partly by sons Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera—known as "El Chapo"—namely Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar Ovidio Guzman Lopez collectively referred "Chapitos." Following father footsteps Chapitos have employed violence sophisticated security apparatus maintain control protect operations while trafficking narcotics such fentanyl cocaine methamphetamine into U.S..
Pérez Salas is allegedly one senior leaders Chapitos’ security apparatus directing armed enforcers known sicarios reportedly using rampant violence demolish unsupportive businesses capture contested territory intimidate civilians attack murder law enforcement resisting efforts . Under his direction sicarios have allegedly used military-grade firearms explosives like machineguns rocket launchers kidnap torture kill opponents.
Court documents indicate Pérez Salas alleged leader commander violent group called “Ninis” charged providing security Chapitos period spanning least 2012 February 2021 allegedly conspired distribute manufacture cocaine methamphetamine unlawful importation into U.S., utilized firearm furtherance alleged drug-trafficking offense killed attempted kill threatened caused bodily injury another intimidate government witness informant .
In advancing Chapitos’ trafficking operations , Pérez Salas has allegedly committed brutal acts violence example around 2017 captured tortured interrogated killed two Mexican federal law enforcement officers alongside two Chapitos later same year he along others captured three members rival Los Zetas cartel tortured interrogated killed them; retaliatory killings targeted against witnesses occurred again roughly May year involved kidnapping victims including US citizen believed related confidential source investigation southern district NY ultimately leading eight fatalities inclusive minor boy..
Indictment District Columbia charge conspiring import cocaine methamphetamine carrying possessing machineguns destructive devices connection conspiracy carries mandatory minimum sentence years maximum penalty life imprisonment conspiracy obstruct justice retaliating witness informant through murder also entails mandatory life imprisonment sentence if convicted
Charges SDNY include participating continuing criminal enterprise resulting death mandatorily implies life prison conspiring import distribute possess intent traffic fentanyl involves minimum ten-year terms potentially extending lifetime sentences similar provisions apply using carrying possessing machineguns destructive devices conspiracies each entailing thirty-year terms maximum penalties reaching lives additionally counts money laundering carries twenty-year term per se well distinct charges kidnapping resulting death minor typically minimum life likewise
Investigation case handled DEA Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit FBI Washington Field Office multiple DEA offices throughout Mexico supported State Rewards Justice Program Marshals Service International Affairs significant role securing arrest extradition thanking Mexican authorities facilitating process accordingly prosecution NDDS Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich Kate Naseef Samantha Thompson Tara Arndt SDNY Assistant US Nicholas Bradley Sarah Kushner Alexander Li David Robles Kyle Wirshba coordinated Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces OCDETF supporting case ongoing proceedings.
An indictment merely allegation all defendants presumed innocent proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law