Mexico extradites 26 suspected top cartel leaders to U.S.
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Servando Gómez Martínez, known as "La Tuta," leader of the Knights Templar cartel, is transported in Mexico City, Mexico, in 2015 after his capture. Photo: Manuel Velasquez/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Mexico extradited 26 suspected high-ranking drug traffickers to the U.S. on Tuesday — including several linked to groups the Trump administration has designated as global terrorist organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel, per the Department of Justice.
The big picture: The extraditions come after months of pressure from President Trump, who has threatened to hit Mexico with hefty tariffs if Mexican officials don't do enough to stop the flow of drugs.
- Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office that vowed to crack down on cartels for a "campaign of violence and terror."
Driving the news: Mexico's secretary of security and civilian protection confirmed on X that the extradition took place at the request of the DOJ after it committed to not seeking the death penalty in the 26 cases.
- They face charges "relating to drug-trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering, the murder of a sheriffs' deputy, and other crimes," per a DOJ statement.
Zoom in: Among those now in U.S. custody are Abigael González Valencia, whom the DOJ described as a leader of "Los Cuinis" — "a major Mexican drug cartel responsible for trafficking multiple tons of cocaine from South America, through Mexico," into the U.S.
- Kevin Gil Acosta and Martín Zazueta Pérez have also been detained. The DOJ says court documents show they are "leaders of a powerful faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that engages in prolific fentanyl trafficking" who've armed themselves with military-style weapons including grenade launchers in attacks on Mexican government and military officials.
- Servando Gómez Martínez, known as "La Tuta," leader of the Knights Templar cartel, a former school teacher who was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 2019 on charges including kidnapping and drug trafficking, was also among those extradited.
Flashback: This is the second such extradition this year. In February, Mexico extradited 29 people accused of being involved in drug cartels to the U.S.
What they're saying: Ronald Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, said on X he's "deeply grateful" to President Claudia Sheinbaum "for her leadership in strengthening the partnership" with Trump and the U.S. "against our common enemies" and for the mutual benefit of the two neighboring countries' citizens.
- "This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity," he said.
- "These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies," Johnson added in an online statement.
Read the full list of suspects in full, via DocumentCloud:
Go deeper: Mexico targets American gun smugglers in response to naming cartels terrorists
