WASHINGTON, DC: In a landmark move hailed as a major stride in tackling organized crime, the Mexican military successfully apprehended Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, infamously known as 'El Nini,' the purported chief of security for the Chapitos faction within the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.
This arrest, celebrated by President Biden, marks a significant dent in the cartel's operations, long accused of fueling the surge of fentanyl trafficking into the United States, as per New York Post.
Who is Perez Salas?
Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, infamously known as 'El Nini,' gained notoriety for his alleged leadership within the Sinaloa Cartel's Chapitos faction, according to ABC 7.
His indictment in 2021 by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking charges, coupled with a subsequent indictment in April 2023 for drug-related offenses and money laundering, underscored his significant role within the cartel's operations. The State Department had offered a substantial $3 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Perez Salas' association with the Guzman family, particularly protecting the sons of the infamous drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman, notably Ovidio Guzman Lopez, further highlights his pivotal position within the cartel hierarchy.
He is purported to have facilitated the Guzmans' drug enterprises and shielded them from potential threats. The moniker 'Nini' allegedly derives from a Mexican slang term, describing individuals neither working nor studying.
The alleged atrocities linked to Perez Salas are chilling. In a gruesome incident from 2017, he purportedly participated in the torture of a Mexican federal agent, subjecting the victim to unimaginable brutality for hours.
The indictment details the appalling methods employed, including inserting a corkscrew into the agent's muscles and inflicting further agony by placing hot chiles in the wounds.
The Ninis, the gang of gunmen purportedly led by Perez Salas and Jorge Figueroa Benitez, are implicated in carrying out appalling acts of violence. They reportedly took captured adversaries to ranches affiliated with the Chapitos for execution, perpetuating a cycle of terror and brutality synonymous with the cartel's operations.
US indictments reveal Perez Salas stands accused of heinous crimes
Perez Salas is accused of heinous crimes, including orchestrating the operations of the 'Ninis,' a brutal security unit under the Chapitos' umbrella. Allegations unveiled in indictments by US federal grand juries detail a harrowing narrative of extreme violence.
The Ninis, under Perez Salas' command, are implicated in multiple gruesome acts, from torturing and slaying law enforcement officers to conducting ghastly experiments with kidnapped rivals and drug addicts.
The indictments paint a chilling picture of torture methods, describing incidents where victims faced unimaginable cruelty. The Ninis' alleged connection to Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, another son of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzman, reveals a disturbing backdrop of using tigers on a Sinaloa ranch to dispose of victims – either shooting them or feeding them alive to the beasts.
Biden expresses gratitude to Mexican President and military for capturing Perez Salas
An extensive joint operation in Culiacan, the stronghold of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, led to Salas' apprehension.
Soldiers and National Guard personnel conducted a meticulously orchestrated swoop on the Colinas de Rivera neighborhood, where Perez Salas attempted to evade capture by seeking refuge on a house's rooftop. However, his escape bid was short-lived as shots were exchanged, compelling him to surrender to the Mexican authorities, as reported by BBC.
President Biden, acknowledging the collaborative effort between US and Mexican authorities, expressed gratitude to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and the Mexican military for their role in capturing Perez Salas.
Biden lauded the joint operation as pivotal in ensuring the safety of both nations, emphasizing the significance of bringing the alleged cartel security chief to justice.
The US Justice Department has intensified its efforts, seeking Perez Salas' swift extradition from Mexico to face a litany of charges, including cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of destructive devices, witness retaliation, fentanyl importation conspiracy, and money laundering.
Attorney General Merrick Garland conveyed appreciation to his Mexican counterpart, Alejandro Gertz Manero, affirming the intent to expedite Perez Salas' legal proceedings in the United States.
