Guatemalan Drug Kingpin Arrested in Mexico and Returned for U.S. Extradition

Aler Baldomero Samayoa, leader of the Los Huistas cartel, faces charges of trafficking cocaine to the U.S. and awaits extradition proceedings in Guatemala.

• Aler Baldomero Samayoa, also known as 'Chicharra,' was arrested in Mexico's Chiapas state on March 11, 2025, in a joint operation with Guatemala and the United States.
• Samayoa is accused of leading the Los Huistas cartel, which smuggles cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from Guatemala to the U.S. through Mexican cartels.
• He faces a 2022 U.S. federal indictment for conspiracy to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States, alongside charges of money laundering.
• Guatemalan authorities also have pending cases against Samayoa, which may need resolution before his extradition to the U.S. is finalized.
• Samayoa has expressed willingness to accept the charges against him, which he believes could expedite the legal process.

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