Top assassin for Sinaloa drug cartel extradited to US to face charges, Justice Department says
SUMMARY
Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, known as "El Nini," a top assassin for the Sinaloa drug cartel, has been extradited to the U.S. from Mexico to face charges related to drugs, firearms, and witness retaliation, the Justice Department announced. Pérez Salas, a key figure providing security for the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, also played a significant role in their drug operations. He was linked to numerous violent acts, including the murder, torture, and kidnapping of cartel rivals and witnesses. His capture last November followed a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reward offer of $3 million. President Joe Biden thanked Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador for the extradition, emphasizing the joint effort to combat the fentanyl crisis, which causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S. Pérez Salas is accused of leading a brutal security team, the Ninis, notorious for their extreme violence and military-style training.
