Mexican President Demands U.S. Explain Deals With 'Terrorist' Cartel Figures Amid Extradition Push for 'El Mini Lic'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration will continue urging U.S. authorities to process the extradition of Dámaso López Serrano, also known as "El Mini Lic," in U.S. custody since his arrest in December 2024.

Sheinbaum said that U.S. authorities must explain why they have made plea deals with members of drug cartels that they themselves have designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

"We must emphasize something very important: the United States government recently issued a decree labeling some organized crime groups as terrorist organizations," Sheinbaum said. "They have repeatedly stated that they do not negotiate with these groups, so they need to explain why, in these cases, agreements are being made."

López Serrano is considered a former high-ranking figure within the Sinaloa Cartel and a close ally of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán and his sons. He was first arrested in 2017 and spent five years in a U.S. prison before being released in 2022 after agreeing to cooperate with authorities. His cooperation reportedly led to the arrests of Ovidio Guzmán López and other cartel members.

During the years that followed his release, López Serrano gave several interviews to Mexican journalists revealing intel about cartel operations. He was arrested again in December 2024 for violating the terms of his release agreement.

Since then, Mexican officials have sought his extradition so he can face charges in Mexico. On May 29 Sheinbaum reiterated that her administration is making daily efforts to bring back individuals wanted for prosecution.

"Every day, we cooperate on security and work to ensure peace and safety in the country," Sheinbaum said. "Together with the Attorney General's Office, we carry out arrests, investigations and intelligence operations. We do not want violence linked to organized crime, and that is why investigation files are opened, arrests are made and work continues every day."

The primary focus behind the extradition of López Serrano is to bring him to justice in Mexico, Sheinbaum said. El Mini Lic has been identified as the alleged intellectual author of the 2017 murder of journalist Javier Valdez in Culiacán, Sinaloa.

In 2020, prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant for López Serrano in connection with the killing. Two men have already been convicted for carrying out the murder: Heriberto Picos Barraza, known as "El Koala," and Juan Francisco Picos Barrueta, known as "El Quilo."

Addressing reporters, Sheinbaum also said her administration will continue pushing for the extradition of other high-profile Mexican drug traffickers currently in the United States, including Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, so they can be prosecuted in Mexico.

"We are going to continue insisting on the extradition of those we have requested for extradition," Sheinbaum concluded.