Almost a week since Mexico announced the extradition of 29 prisoners wanted by the U.S. government due to their role in drug trafficking and other crimes, sources revealed that only a small fraction of the new arrivals are facing charges for trafficking fentanyl.
Ever since arriving to the White House, President Donald Trump has been vocal about cracking down Mexican drug cartels and has used the threats of tariffs on Mexican goods in order to urge its southern neighbor to greatly increase its efforts to combat criminal organizations.
Although many of the 29 prisoners extradited to the U.S. included high-profile criminals such as Rafael Caro Quintero, co-founder of the Guadalajara cartel, and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, leader and founder of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
As reported by Animal Político, the four individuals facing charges for fentanyl trafficking are José Canobbio Inzunza, alias "El Güerito," Evaristo Cruz Sánchez "El Vaquero," Jesús Humberto Limón López "El Chubeto" and Kosé Bibiano Cabrera Cabrera "El Durango."
According to the news outlet, all four individuals could face life sentences if found guilty by U.S. courts.
Amid the possibility of spending the rest of their lives behind bars, the first one to declare himself not guilty was Canobbio Inzunza, the alleged leader of "Los Chimales," an armed wing of "Los Chapitos" that provides the Sinaloa cartel clique with protection. El Güerito is represented by Jeffrey Litchman, lawyer of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
The man known as El Vaquero is facing nine different charges for his role in drug trafficking between 2015 and 2021, while Villarreal Hernández is being labeled as a key associate of the Beltrán Letva cartel as well as the mastermind behind the murder of Juan Jesús Guerrero Chapa back in 2013. According to U.S. authorities, El Gato wanted Chapa killed as revenge for his father's murder and he paid two individuals to carry out the murder.
Extraditions part of trade and security negotiations
In exchange for delaying the 25% tariffs on Mexican imported goods, President Trump insisted that Mexico crack down on cartels, illegal immigration and fentanyl production.
The extraditions were one of the first steps taken by the Mexican government to meet Trump's demands, which coincided with the visit of a Mexican delegation including Omar García Harfuch, Mexico's secretary of security and Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico's foreign minister, who met with high-ranking U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi, to talk about a security agreement.
As the Trump administration ramps up its offensive against drug cartels, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum demanded earlier this week that any U.S. military action against cartels be done in cooperation with Mexican forces, instead of a full intervention, vowing to protect her country's sovereignty.
"They can call them (the cartels) whatever they want, but with Mexico, it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination or interventionism, and even less invasion," Sheinbaum said on Feb. 21.
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