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US Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed his gratitude towards Mexican officials for their role in apprehending Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, a suspected cartel security chief known as “El Nini.”

In a statement, AG Garland said, “Shortly after the apprehension of El Nini, I spoke with Mexican Attorney General Gertz to thank him for the extraordinary efforts of the Mexican authorities who made the arrest, and to whom we are all grateful for their courage. The Justice Department is grateful to our Mexican counterparts for their work in that effort. We remain committed to doing everything in our power to dismantle the dangerous drug trafficking cartels that are responsible for death and devastation in both the United States and Mexico.”

El Nini, identified as a leading figure in the security operations of the notorious Sinaloa cartel’s Chapitos wing, faces allegations of murder, torture, and kidnapping. His arrest is a significant development, following the extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, the son of famed cartel boss Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, to the US two months prior.

The US is now awaiting the extradition of “El Nini” to face charges stateside. AG Garland described “El Nini” as the leader of “security operations for the Chapitos. We allege that he and his security forces murdered, tortured, and kidnapped rivals, witnesses, and others who opposed the Chapitos.”

President Biden also reacted to the arrest, saying, “These arrests are a testament to the commitment between the United States and Mexico to secure our communities against violence, counter the cartels, and end the scourge of illicit fentanyl that is hurting so many families. We will continue working as strong partners to do everything possible to hold criminals accountable for jeopardizing public health and safety in our two countries.”