Mexico agreed Tuesday to extradite to the US 26 fugitives located in Mexico who have been charged with several federal and state crimes across most regions of the US.
In a press release, the DOJ states that these charges include those “relating to drug-trafficking, hostage-taking, kidnapping, illegal use of firearms, human smuggling, money laundering, the murder of a sheriffs’ deputy, and other crimes.” Each fugitive faces up to life imprisonment, with the exception of a fugitive from Sierra Leone, Abdul Karim Conteh, who faces up to 45 years of imprisonment. Moreover, some of them belong to one of the eight south American gangs deemed foreign terrorist organizations by the US.
According to the DOJ, “These fugitives are collectively alleged to have imported into the United States tonnage quantities of dangerous drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin.”
“Today is the latest example of the Trump administration’s historic efforts to dismantle cartels and foreign terrorist organizations,” Attorney General Pan Bondi stated. “These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores–under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country. We are grateful to Mexico’s National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.”
According to The Daily Wire, “One of those extradited, Robert Salazar, was wanted in connection with the murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Juan Escalante in 2008. Escalante was shot by two gang members outside his home before he left for work.”
President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum commented on the extradition, stating her country’s stance of cooperating with the US on holding criminals accountable in the States, but not allowing the US to operate in Mexico to fulfill that end.
“We cooperate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out. It is not part of any agreement, far from it. When it has been brought up, we have always said no,” Sheinbaum said.
TPUSA Frontlines further reported on the extradition of the fugitives, highlighting specific cartel individuals who have been extradited in light of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and crime flowing from South America.
