Mexico Transfers 37 Cartel Members to the US Amid Trump Administration Pressure
Mexico’s security minister, Omar García Harfuch, announced on Tuesday that the country has sent 37 members of Mexican drug cartels to the United States. This move is seen as a response to the Trump administration’s increasing pressure on governments to crack down on criminal networks involved in smuggling drugs across the border.
According to García Harfuch, the transferred individuals are “high impact criminals” who pose a significant threat to the country’s security. The minister shared images and videos of the transfer on social media, providing a glimpse into the operation. The 37 cartel members were taken to multiple cities in the US, including Washington, Houston, New York, San Antonio, and San Diego, aboard seven aircraft.
This is the third time in less than a year that Mexico has sent detained cartel members to the US. The total number of individuals transferred now stands at 92. García Harfuch emphasized that, under an agreement with the US Justice Department, prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for these individuals.
The transferred cartel members include figures from notable organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel, the Beltrán-Leyva cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and the Northeast Cartel. One of the notable figures sent to the US is Cartel del Noreste leader Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda, alias “El Ricky”. Mexican authorities confirmed that all the transferred individuals have pending US cases.
The US State Department and Justice Department have not yet commented on the transfer. However, the move is seen as a significant step in the cooperation between the two countries in combating drug trafficking.
Background and Context
The Trump administration has been increasing pressure on governments to crack down on criminal networks involved in smuggling drugs across the border. In an interview with Fox News, President Trump stated that the US has “knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water” and plans to start targeting cartels on land.
Last week, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke with President Trump, emphasizing that US intervention in Mexico is “not necessary” but reaffirming the two governments’ commitment to collaborate on combating drug traffickers.
This is not the first time Mexico has transferred cartel members to the US. In February, 29 cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, were sent to the US. In August, another 26 Mexican cartel figures were transferred, spanning multiple cartels.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The transfer of 37 cartel members to the US is a significant development in the cooperation between the two countries in combating drug trafficking. As the Trump administration continues to pressure governments to crack down on criminal networks, it is likely that we will see more such transfers in the future.
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