Overview

• The 26 detainees include leaders from Los Cuinis and other CJNG-linked factions, among them Abigael González Valencia and Roberto Salazar.
• They face U.S. federal charges for importing tonnage quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, along with kidnapping, human smuggling, money laundering and murder counts.
• Mexican authorities used abbreviated extradition procedures supported by about 1,000 law-enforcement officers, 90 vehicles and a dozen military aircraft to secure the transfers.
• This is the second major mass handover this year following February’s transfer of 29 cartel figures under U.S. tariff threats and terrorism designations.
• Mexican officials say the operation protects public safety by preventing imprisoned kingpins from directing criminal networks and upholds national sovereignty.