Mexico has transferred 37 more suspects accused of being related to drug crime organizations to the US, according to information from the Mexican Minister of Security on January 20 (Mexico time). This is the third largest handover in a year, raising the total number of prisoners transferred to the US in the current term to 92 people.
According to Mexican military officials, those extradited this time are wanted by the US for being involved in criminal organizations and are assessed as posing a risk to public safety. Mexican Minister of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch said that this transfer is to prevent the possibility that these subjects will continue to cause violence in Mexico.
The group of prisoners was taken to many locations in the US, including Washington, Houston, New York, Pennsylvania, San Antonio and San Diego, by 7 Mexican Armed Forces aircraft. Among them was Pedro Inzunza Noriega, father of the number two figure in the Beltran Leyva gang. Accordingly, Noriega was arrested after being named by the US in the first terrorist indictment against a Mexican drug dealer.
Extradition activities take place in the context of escalating tensions between Mexico and the US related to the activities of drug cartels. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to attack these organizations, even without the participation of the Mexican side. Increased pressure is also reflected in the requests to deploy US military forces on Mexican territory to counter cartels.
In Mexico, some senators and legal experts questioned the legal basis and political motives for prisoner transfers. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected the possibility of military intervention from the US after an exchange she described as positive with Mr. Trump on January 12.
At the diplomatic level, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke by phone with Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente, emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation to break violent drug crime networks, while preventing the smuggling of fentanyl and weapons across borders.
