Those 29 persons include leaders and managers of drug cartels recently designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel), the Department of Justice revealed in a release.
They are alleged to have been responsible for the importation into the United States of massive quantities of poison, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as associated acts of violence. Among those extradited to face American justice, 23 are facing life imprisonment, 5 could face the death penalty, and one is looking at 10 years in prison if convicted.
"As President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups, and this Department of Justice is devoted to destroying cartels and transnational gangs," Attorney General Pam Bondi said. "We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels. We will not rest until we secure justice for the American people."
FBI Director Kash Patel had this to say: "The FBI and our partners will scour the ends of the earth to bring terrorists and cartel members to justice. The era of harming Americans and walking free is over."
Many of those who were extradited by Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum were subject to longstanding extradition requests. Mexico's government complied with the extradition requests, which they had long ignored, after President Donald Trump designated cartel groups terrorist organizations. The Trump administration is slated to impose sweeping 25 percent tariffs on Mexico.
