Well before Mexico's most feared cartel boss Nemesio 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes was killed, a parallel crackdown was already underway across the border. In the months leading up to the takedown of El Mencho, Mexico reportedly transferred nearly 100 suspected cartel operatives to the US. This came after US President Donald Trump's 2025 decision to designate major cartels as foreign terrorist organisations - a step that raised pressure on Mexico to act.
Among those handed over was El Mencho's brother, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, who played a senior role in the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG). Antonio is accused of overseeing the cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking operations.
According to the US Justice Department, many of the 92 defendants sent to the US had their extradition requests pending since the Joe Biden administration. The transfers began last February and took place in multiple batches.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said of the first round of transfers: "As President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups, and this Department of Justice is devoted to destroying cartels and transnational gangs. We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honour of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers - and in some cases, given their lives - to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels."
The DOJ said that Mexico moved decisively after the Trump administration indicated it would treat cartels as a national security priority.
"This is another landmark achievement in the Trump Administration's mission to destroy the cartels," Bondi said of a later round of handovers. She added that the alleged cartel members, "including terrorists from the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and others - will now pay for their crimes against the American people on American soil."
Those transferred includes major figures from both CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel. In January, US took custody of Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, who prosecutors say operated on of the world's most sophisticated fentanyl production and trafficking networks.
In August, Kevin Gil Acosta and Martin Zazueta Perez, accused leaders of the security wing for the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, were transferred.
In total, Mexico military aircraft transported around 92 suspects to the US soil in three batches since last February.
GetLatest NewsLive on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines fromUS Newsand around theWorld.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
