Mexican authorities arrest El Chapo’s nephew; extradition pending
A cartel leader with familial ties to notorious ringleader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán has been arrested in Mexico and faces extradition, according to Omar Garcia Harfuch, the country’s minister of security and citizen protection.
Isai N, also known as “El Chinacate” He was arrested during the operation in NogalesHarfuch, located in the northern state of Sonora, just across the border from Arizona, announced via X on May 26.
Harfuch said Isai N is the nephew of notorious drug trafficker Guzmán, who has been in a US prison since 2017.
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In his social media post, Harfuch did not specify which country requested Isai N’s extradition or what charges he was facing.
The Mexican Embassy in Washington and the Department of Justice did not return USA TODAY’s request for comment outside normal business hours.
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Isai N’s arrest comes a month after Mexican authorities arrested Audias Flores, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Flores, also known as “El Jardinero” or “The Gardner,” was seen as a potential successor to former CJNG leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Asegeuro, who was killed during a security operation in February, USA TODAY previously reported.
The Justice Department announced the convening of a federal grand jury on May 14. Returned a superior indictment against Flores. He currently faces federal charges of drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms offenses and money laundering conspiracy.
According to Spanish media outlet El País, approximately 50,000 people in Mexico “high impact crimes“Homicide rates fell during the first 18 months of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term. But the report notes that violence continues across the country, including kidnappings, arson, and internal struggles for supremacy and leadership in organized crime networks.
In his May 26 post, Harfuch added that Mexican security agencies also executed a search warrant in Tapachula in Chiapas, near the coastal border with Guatemala. During this operation, authorities seized more than 1,500 pounds of cocaine, 151 firearms, 363 magazines and 18 hand grenades.
“These actions reflect the Mexican State’s ongoing coordination to capture priority targets and weaken the operational capabilities of criminal groups,” Harfuch wrote.
Drew Pittock covers national trending news for USA TODAY. He can be reached at DPittock@usatodayco.com.
This article first appeared on USA TODAY: Mexican authorities arrest El Chapo’s nephew Isai N in border town
