Mexican authorities have captured Pedro Inzunza Noriega, an alleged leader of the Sinaloa cartel, on drug and terrorism charges, officials confirmed Wednesday.
Noriega, accused by the U.S. in May of trafficking large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, was identified as the second-in-command of the Beltrán Leyva Organization, a faction now believed to be defunct. He was taken into custody in Sinaloa state in northwestern Mexico.
The U.S. indictment marked the first time a cartel leader was charged with “narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism,” according to the Justice Department. Then-Attorney General Pam Bondi said, “The Sinaloa Cartel is a complex, dangerous terrorist organization, and dismantling them demands a novel, powerful legal response… Their days of brutalizing the American people without consequence are over – we will seek life in prison for these terrorists.”
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has intensified efforts against drug trafficking, including military strikes on suspected drug transport boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, which have resulted in over 100 deaths and sparked criticism as extrajudicial executions. Trump has also pressured Mexico to bolster anti-drug measures, warning of potential tariffs if efforts fall short.
Noriega’s son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, who was also charged in the U.S., was killed in November during a Mexican military anti-drug operation.
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