Trump Admin’s Extradition Deal With Mexico Marks Major Cartel Operation
Mexico is handing over 26 top cartel leaders to the United States this week in a deal with the Trump administration, marking a major step in the administration’s plan to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking networks. The cartel figures were scheduled to fly to the U.S. on Tuesday. Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighted the significance of the move, stating that these individuals have all contributed to bringing violence and drugs to American shores.
A leader of the Los Cuinis cartel, aligned with the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), and Roberto Salazar, accused in the 2008 murder of a Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy, are among those being extradited. The Trump administration has classified the CJNG as a terrorist organization, highlighting its role in threatening American security. This extradition is part of a broader effort to reduce the flow of narcotics into the United States.
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico emphasized the collaborative nature of the deal, stating that U.S. military intervention would not be involved. This underscores the diplomatic challenges of combating drug-related crime through international cooperation. The deal also comes amid the Trump administration’s focus on border security, including potential tariffs on Mexican goods and secret authorization of U.S. military actions against cartels designated as terrorist organizations.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s involvement in such extraditions has become a key focus for U.S. authorities, with the country having previously handed over 29 cartel leaders in February, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who is linked to a 1985 DEA agent murder. These actions reflect the ongoing struggle between the two nations to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activity on a transnational scale.