(Bloomberg) -- Two drug lords were arrested by Mexican authorities as part of operations aimed at boosting security in Sinaloa, a state mired in violence between warring factions of a cartel.
Crescensio Moreno, who had an FBI warrant, was detained by authorities in Sinaloa after he tried to evade police in a car, according to a statement sent by a government spokesperson.
Police found plastic bags with blue pills inside Moreno’s car, according to the statement. He was wanted by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
Authorities also arrested Hernan Domingo Ojeda Lopez, known as “El Mero Mero,” after being found with a handgun and two bags of fentanyl pills, according to the government spokesperson. Linked to the family of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, he was arrested for his alleged responsibility in trafficking fentanyl to the US.
Mexican authorities also made 10 arrests across several states for their involvement in a human trafficking network targeting migrants, according to the spokesperson.
Also on Monday, the US deported Osiel Cardenas Guillen to Mexico, where he was arrested, according to the spokesperson. He was wanted for alleged homicides and public health-related crimes.
Mexico also asked the US to extradite Damaso Lopez Serrano, known as “El Mini Lic,” a former leader of the Sinaloa cartel, for allegedly being the mastermind behind the murder of a journalist, said Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero on Tuesday during a presidential press conference. Lopez Serrano, arrested by US authorities, has been accused of trafficking fentanyl.
The battles in Sinaloa have put pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration to boost security and control the situation. In 30 days of fighting through mid-October, 202 people were killed and 234 “disappeared” in the state, according to local outlet Espejo.
(Updates with extradition request in seventh paragraph.)
©2024 Bloomberg L.P.