On August 12, 2025, Mexico carried out a high-profile extradition operation, transferring 26 highly dangerous convicts to the United States to face charges ranging from drug trafficking and homicide to money laundering and organized crime. The operation was coordinated between Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, in response to longstanding U.S. extradition requests.
The individuals extradited are believed to be key operatives and leaders within several of Mexico’s most notorious criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Los Zetas, and the Gulf Cartel. Among them were cartel enforcers, logistics coordinators, and financial operatives responsible for cross-border narcotics distribution and violent crimes committed on both sides of the border.
The convicts were flown from various federal penitentiaries across Mexico aboard military aircraft under strict security protocols. Upon arrival in the United States, they were handed over to federal authorities in jurisdictions including Texas, California, New York, and Florida, where they will face trial in federal courts.
This mass extradition marks one of the largest single-day transfers of cartel-linked convicts in recent history. It reflects growing bilateral cooperation between Mexico and the United States in combating transnational organized crime. U.S. officials praised the move as a “major step forward in dismantling violent criminal networks,” while Mexican authorities emphasized their commitment to justice and international collaboration.
The extradition comes amid heightened pressure from both governments to curb cartel violence and fentanyl trafficking. It also signals a shift in Mexico’s approach to handling high-profile criminals, prioritizing international prosecution over prolonged domestic legal battles. The operation is expected to have ripple effects across cartel structures and ongoing investigations.
Among these dangerous inmates are El Cuini, head of security for Los Chapitos, and Servando Gómez Martínez, also known as La Tuta, the last leader of the extinct criminal group known as the Knights Templar and a former leader of La Familia Michoacana.
Source: OEM
