The Mexican government has extradited 26 members of drug cartels to the United States at the request of the U.S. This is the second mass extradition since February and is seen as a response to recent measures by the Trump administration, including tariffs and military pressure, to combat Mexican drug cartels.
In a statement on the 12th, the Mexican government announced, “We have extradited 26 members of criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking and other crimes to the United States,” adding, “These individuals pose a constant threat to public safety.” The statement also noted that the U.S. Department of Justice promised not to seek the death penalty for those extradited.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the extradited individuals were transported to locations including Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., and to cities such as San Diego and New York. They include key figures from major Mexican criminal organizations, such as the Sinaloa and Zetas cartels, as well as defendants indicted in the U.S. on drug and organized crime charges.
There is analysis suggesting that Mexico’s cooperation in this matter aims to ease the pressure from President Trump. Previously, The New York Times reported that President Trump had secretly directed the Department of Defense to use military force against some Latin American drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations. In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated, “We will never allow U.S. military intervention or sovereignty infringement,” while expressing willingness to enhance information sharing and joint investigations between the two countries to eradicate drugs and organized crime.