U.S. Authorities Say Agents Arrested Over 1,000 Operatives Of The Sinaloa Cartel In Less Than a Month And a Half

The Department of Justice detailed figures of operations conducted by the Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) to crack down on cartels, noting that forces arrested over 1,000 operatives of the Sinaloa Cartel in less than a month and a half last year.

In a recent press release, the DOJ noted that, along with the Department of Homeland Security, law enforcement has "surging resources to fight and raise awareness about human trafficking."

The statement went on to note that the HSTF launched an effort to "protect the Homeland" in September, managing to arrest thousands of cartel operatives in less than a month and a half.

Concretely, it said that agents arrested over 1,000 operatives of the Sinaloa Cartel, with the operations also targeting more than 850 members of the Jalisco Cartel, 641 from MS-13 and 456 members of Tren de Aragua.

The Trump administration has also been receiving cartel operatives as a result of extraditions from Mexico. The latest one took place earlier this month.

Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch announced in a social media publication that 37 people were sent to the United States.

He noted that the people "represented a real threat to the country's security" and the extraditions were carried "in accordance with the National Security Law and under mechanisms of bilateral cooperation with full respect for national sovereignty."

"Said people were taken to the cities of Washington, Houston, New York, Pennsylvania, San Antonio and San Diego aboard seven Air Force planes. With this move, 92 high-impact criminals have been sent to the U.S. under this administration. They won't generate violence in our country anymore," he added.

Noticias Telemundo noted that those extradited include operatives of the Sinaloa, Beltran Leyva, Jalisco, Noreste and Zetas cartels. The transport includes a promise to not pursue the death penalty.

Previous extraditions took place in February and August last year. Among the 26 handed in August included Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, a leader of "Los Cuinis," a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation, or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection with the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug trafficking groups. Moreover, 29 people were part of the first group that were extradited to the U.S.