Authorities in the Mexican state of Sinaloa arrested two men during the early hours of Jan. 14 that allegedly belong to the criminal group led by Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez alias "El Perris" or "El 27," security chief for "Los Chapitos" and head of the armed wing known as "Los Ninis."
Members of the Mexican National Guard, Navy and Army that conducted the surprise operation also seized two machine guns, a rifle, ammunition, three bags of fentanyl and three vehicles, two of which were armored. According to local reports, the area is in an exclusive part of the city with limited access.
Identified as Raúl Alonso Flores Uraga and Héctor Abel Ríos Armenta, authorities say both men work for "El Perris," who is wanted by the U.S. Department of State and the FBI under a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
According to statement from the Secretariat of Public Safety and Civilian Protection (SSPC) the men were trying to escape while armed with two handguns when surveillance cameras at the residential area caught them.
This is the second blow Mexican officials have delivered to the group led by "El Perris" in recent weeks. Last month, an operation led by the Army and units of the SSPC arrested four men with heavy links to Benítez's criminal group.
Who is "El Perris?"
After the arrest of Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, a.k.a "El Nini" in November of last year, "El Perris" became the security chief for "Los Chapitos". Both Salas and Benítez form part of a group called "Los Ninis," the armed wing that protects the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
Back in October of last year, "El 27" was close to being detained during a raid coordinated by the Mexican army, but he managed to escape. Five days later, authorities believe he was responsible of orchestrating an attack against the Mexican army in Sinaloa.
In April of 2024, a federal grand jury in New York indicted "El Perris" and others, charging them with engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Fentanyl Importation Conspiracy, and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy, between other charges.
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