One of Sinaloa Cartel's Top-Ranked Women Flown From Mexico to U.S. to Face Charges

One of the Sinaloa cartel's top-ranked women was flown from Mexico to California in the United States to face charges.

Infobae reported that Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) extradited the woman, identified as Mercedes "M," after the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California requested it. The woman was facing charges of money laundering and criminal association.

Mercedes "M" was reportedly in charge of sending money generated from the sale of drugs in the U.S. to Mexico from 2012 to 2015. The FGR said she was part of a drug trafficking group in Mexico's Sinaloa state, believed to be the Sinaloa cartel.

Mercedes "M" was arrested in Sinaloa last April. The government of Mexico then granted her extradition to the U.S. Mercedes "M" was recently handed to U.S. agents waiting for her at the Mexico City International Airport when she was about to be extradited to California.

Hitmen Linked to Sinaloa Cartel Arrested in Mexico

On Sunday, 13 alleged hitmen linked to the Sinaloa cartel were arrested in relation to violent events that happened in Mexico's Chiapas state on October 10. During their arrest, the hitmen were carrying firearms, magazines, and cartridges.

The 13 individuals were believed to be members of a criminal group called Los Valdovinos, which is reportedly connected to the Sinaloa cartel. According to the FGR in Chiapas, these men were identified as José "C," Alfredo "S," Mario "P," Jonas "L," Anselmo "M," Cristino "R," Hugo "H," Santiago "C," David "M," José "H," Gilberto "S," Juan "L" and César "V."

Infobae reported that they were charged with criminal association, collection of firearms, and possession of cartridges and chargers, all exclusive to the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Mexico's Undersecretary for Public Security, Ricardo Mejia Berdeja, said the hitmen generated violence in Jiquipilas in Chiapas. Since October 9, armed attacks have been recorded in Chiapas.

New Leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel After El Chapo's Arrest

The four sons of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, known as Los Chapitos, had reportedly assumed leadership roles in the Sinaloa cartel after their father was arrested and extradited to the U.S.

Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, and Jesus Alfredo Guzman had allegedly shared control of the Sinaloa cartel along with their uncle Aureliano "El Guano" Guzman and co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

Last December, the U.S. State Department offered $5 million rewards for any information that could help federal agents arrest El Chapo's four sons. U.S. investigators said the Los Chapitos manage around 11 laboratories in their home state of Sinaloa that produces up to 5,000 pounds of methamphetamine monthly.

The State Department noted that the Los Chapitos are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa cartel and are subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illegal drug trade.

The Sinaloa cartel is one of Mexico's largest and most powerful drug trafficking organizations. The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups.

El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison in Colorado after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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