Mexico’s National Guard officers have made a significant arrest by apprehending Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, the alleged security chief for the “Chapitos” wing of the notorious Sinaloa drug cartel. Pérez Salas, also known by his alias “El Nini,” was taken into custody on Wednesday at a property in Culiacan, the capital of the Sinaloa state.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had previously offered a $3 million reward for Pérez Salas’ capture. He is wanted on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl in the United States. However, Pérez Salas is also believed to have been involved in numerous acts of murder and torture within Mexico.
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The captured suspect was responsible for protecting the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and aiding their drug business. The sons, known as the little Chapos or “Chapitos,” lead a faction of the cartel that is known for exporting fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, to the United States. Fentanyl has been linked to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S.
According to prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, Pérez Salas was in charge of the Chapitos’ security team known as the Ninis. The Ninis received military-style training and were described as a particularly violent group. They were involved in acts of urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper proficiency.
The arrest of Pérez Salas comes as a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel and the Chapitos’ operations. With the cartel’s leaders, including El Chapo, either imprisoned or facing health issues, the younger generation has been escalating violence and drug trafficking activities.
Interestingly, the timing of Pérez Salas’ arrest, along with other recent major arrests, coincides with meetings between Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and U.S. President Joe Biden. Some analysts speculate that these arrests may serve as a gesture of goodwill from the Mexican president as he nears the end of his term in September.
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The apprehension of Pérez Salas highlights the ongoing efforts to combat drug cartels and the illicit drug trade in Mexico. It is a significant step towards dismantling the operations of the Sinaloa cartel and disrupting the flow of fentanyl to the United States.
