Sinaloa Cartel Increasingly Under Siege With Another Top Leader 'Neon' Extradited To The U.S.

The Sinaloa Cartel continues to see the apprehension of top leaders as both the Mexican and U.S. governments intensify their offensive against the criminal group.

This time it was the turn of Daniel Franco Lopez, also known as "Neon." He has been extradited to El Paso from Mexico and stands accused of overseeing murders, kidnappings, and drug smuggling into the U.S.

"Neon" had been arrested in 2012 and indicted that year along with top cartel leaders Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and other codefendants, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas explained in a document.

"The extradition of this defendant is a of many significant pieces in a very large cartel case that spans more than a decade," said Acting U.S. Attorney for the district, Margaret Leachman.

"The extradition is one more step towards dismantling and ending violence perpetrated by criminal drug trafficking organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel," added Special Agent in Charge John Morales for FBI El Paso.

Concretely, Lopez has been charged with one count of RICO conspiracy; "two counts related to conspiracy to possess and import over five kgs of cocaine and over 1,000 kgs of marijuana; one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and aid and abet;" among other charges. He could spend the rest of his life in prison.

The development follows the arrest of other high-profile cartel leaders, something that has led its head, Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, reportedly "terrified" of his future.

José Luis Montenegro, a specialized journalist, said in a radio interview that Guzmán "no longer sleeps" as a result and es even "betraying those close to him in fear of them betraying him first."

Just last week, the Sinaloa cartel clique known as Los Chapitos, led by Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán, sons of "El Chapo," was ambushed by federal agents in Culiacán. The operations landed the arrest of four high-profile cartel members while Iván Archivaldo managed to escape via a tunnel.

The arrests have allegedly been facilitated by intel coming from Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, also known as "La Perris," seeking to join warring cartel faction "La Mayiza." Also known as "El 27," Figueroa Benítez serves as the head of the armed wing known as "Los Ninis," who offers protection to Los Chapitos.

Authorities also recently arrested Mauro Alejandro "N," the pilot that allegedly helped the "Chapitos" transport Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada against his will to the U.S., where he was later arrested. The operation catalyzed a bloody turf war with the other faction of the Sinaloa Cartel which still rages on.