Mexico’s National Guard officers have arrested Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, the alleged security chief for the “Chapitos” wing of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Pérez Salas, also known as “El Nini,” was apprehended in the state capital of Culiacan, according to the Public Safety Department’s arrest registry. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had previously offered a $3 million reward for his capture, as he is wanted on charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl in the United States.
Pérez Salas had reportedly protected the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and was involved in their drug business. The Chapitos, as the sons’ faction is known, has been identified as one of the main exporters of fentanyl, a lethal synthetic opioid, to the U.S. market. Fentanyl is responsible for approximately 70,000 overdose deaths each year in the United States.
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Former head of international operations for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Mike Vigil, described Pérez Salas as a “complete psychopath” and emphasized the significance of his arrest for Mexico. Pérez Salas commanded a violent group of security personnel called the Ninis, who received military-style training in combat tactics and sniper proficiency. They were responsible for carrying out gruesome acts of violence, including torture and execution.
The timing of Pérez Salas’ arrest is noteworthy, coming just days after Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with President Joe Biden. This follows a pattern of major arrests occurring before or after meetings with Biden. In January, Ovidio Guzman López, another Chapito, was arrested shortly before a meeting between the two leaders. Ovidio Guzman was extradited to the United States in September to face drug trafficking charges, while his father, El Chapo, is serving a life sentence in the U.S.
According to Vigil, the timing of these arrests may be more than a coincidence, suggesting that López Obrador may be trying to demonstrate goodwill as he nears the end of his presidency. López Obrador will leave office in September. The apprehension of Pérez Salas is seen as a significant blow to the Sinaloa drug cartel and a step towards combating the illegal drug trade between Mexico and the United States.
