https://latinamericanpost.com/45965-mexicos-captures-most-feared-drug-lords-henchman
Mexico’s National Guard has apprehended Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, the notorious “El Nini,” He is the alleged security chief for the Sinaloa drug cartel’s infamous “Chapitos” wing. His arrest came after the US DEA posted a 3 million dollar reward for his apprehension. Some of his charges included conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl in the United States. There are many more charges, and not all were listed. The Chapitos faction is infamous for being a primary exporter of fentanyl to the U.S. The purity of the cartel’s fentanyl varies widely depending on the manufacturer’s method and skill. Despite overdoses from a particular batch, the Chapitos continued to ship it to the U.S. Chapitos fentanyl, as a whole, has been responsible for approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually.
Pérez Salas is also said to head a group within the cartel called the Ninis, infamous for incredible violence and executions. They are described as “a particularly violent group with extensive military-style training in various combat areas, including urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper proficiency.” The group is known and wanted for many crimes, including the brutal torture of a Mexican federal official and human testing with fentanyl. They inject kidnapped rivals, addicts, or just about anyone with fentanyl until they overdose and die. Pérez Salas is alleged to have participated in/been heavily involved in these crimes. The Mexican National Guard has described his capture as “a decisive blow to the Sinaloa drug cartel.”
The capture of “El Nini” has sent shockwaves through the drug trade, disrupting the Chapitos’ operations and dealing a significant blow to the Sinaloa cartel’s influence. There is an investigation unfolding on Pérez Salas, the Sinaloa cartel, and general drug trafficking and cartels in Mexico especially. The issue of drugs being smuggled into the United States is one of the many things inflaming border issues between the United States and Mexico. But Mexico and the United States are jointly tackling drug trafficking and aiming to curb the violence and many deaths that have plagued the region due to it. The U.S. has been expanding its relations with Mexico in different ways, including possible new military training relationships.
In addition, the indictment around Pérez Salas also alleged responsibility on 28 members and associates of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel, including El Chapo’s three sons, for importing fentanyl precursor chemicals from China.
This brought to light for me more of the supply chain. A lot of fentanyl is made in Mexico, but many of the precursor chemicals come from China, making it further an international issue. Biden made an agreement “in principle” with China’s president, Xi Jinping, to curb the export of fentanyl precursors to Mexico before Pérez Salas was arrested. A week after the agreement “in principle” with China, Biden and the US attorney general, Merrick Garland, made remarks separately thanking Mexican authorities for capturing Pérez Salas.
This can be connected to class through our discussions of allies a country may make, and the reasonings around/behind those allies. With Mexico and the U.S. we essentially have to deal with each other, being bordering states. But a large part of our policy with Mexico is heavily affected by their growing drug cartels, how much of an impact their drug shipments have on the U.S, as well as the relative ease they have getting drugs through to the U.S. vs. other countries and cartels that have to travel a great deal more. This is in regards to our border with Mexico and our diplomatic relations with Mexico.