El Chapo’s Rival From Arellano Felix Cartel Extradited to North Dakota Nearly 11 Years After His Arrest in Mexico

Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha, a leader of the Arellano Felix cartel who allegedly rivaled Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, has been extradited to the U.S. to face federal charges in North Dakota.

According to The Washington Post, Sillas-Rocha appeared on Friday in Fargo on charges of conspiracy to possess drugs with intent to distribute, continuing a criminal enterprise, and conspiracy to commit murder.

It was reportedly not clear what led Mexican authorities to turn him over to U.S. officials. Authorities said Sillas-Rocha was a top lieutenant and prolific hitman for the Arellano Felix cartel, which was known to smuggle cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs into the U.S. for decades.

Sillas-Rocha had been fighting extradition for years. A detective in North Dakota said the cartel leader once boasted to officials that he killed up to 30 people a month during the Mexican drug cartel's peak years in Tijuana.

El Chapo Drug Rival: Arellano Felix Cartel Leader Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha Arrested

Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha of the Arellano Felix cartel, who competed against the Sinaloa Cartel led by El Chapo, was arrested by the military in Tijuana in Mexico's state of Baja California in November 2011. He was paraded in front of reporters by police in riot gear and masks after his arrest.

Infobae reported that Sillas-Rocha's whereabouts had been unknown since 2020. His location became unclear after his transfer from the Federal Center for Social Readaptation (Cefereso) number 2 Occidente in Puente Grande, Jalisco to a state police station for sentenced persons.

Aside from Sillas-Rocha, three other members of the of the Arellano Felix cartel were also arrested. They were identified as Alejandro Sotelo Pineda, Jesus Manuel Mariscal Ramirez, and Cristian Ezequiel Sotel Rodgriguez. Authorities found five guns, cartridges, and some vehicles in their possession.

Sillas-Rocha earned the reputation of being one of the most violent drug traffickers, responsible for numerous murders, clashes, and acts carried out under the direct orders of the cartel boss, Fernando Sanchez Arellano.

He was also accused of ordering the 2010 kidnapping of three women in the family of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the leader of the Sinaloa cartel at the time alongside El Chapo.

The Case Against Arellano Felix Cartel Leader Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha

The case against Juan Francisco Sillas-Rocha reportedly ended up in North Dakota after Jorge "Sneaky" Arandas of the Arellano Felix cartel ordered the killing of a Minnesota man for failing to pay for five pounds of meth that came from Sillas-Rocha.

According to New York Daily News, Arandas told authorities that he feared he would be killed for not paying Sillas-Rocha, so he had someone shoot and kill the man to show strength. Arandas had set up shop in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and Minnesota.

Sillas-Rocha's federal case in the U.S. remained sealed from public view until 2017. Former Virginia attorney Tim Heaphy said it was common to seal such cases to protect witnesses and preserve an investigation. However, those fears will dissipate when a defendant is in custody for a long time.

Sillas-Rocha was also accused of being involved in the supervision crews that participated in the murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and human trafficking, among others, according to an indictment filed against him. He was also reportedly involved in public corruption of government officials and money laundering.

Reports said no further court proceedings had been scheduled, and no plea had been filed.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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