Arrested Security Chief of Sinaloa Cartel, Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, Allegedly Involved in Murder and Torture

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Mexico’s National Guard Arrests Alleged Security Chief of Sinaloa Drug Cartel’s “Chapitos” Wing

Mexico City, November 22, 2023 – In a major breakthrough in the fight against drug cartels, Mexico’s National Guard officers apprehended Nestor Isidro Pérez Salas, the alleged hyper-violent security chief for the notorious “Chapitos” wing of the Sinaloa drug cartel. Pérez Salas, also known by his alias “El Nini,” was captured on Wednesday afternoon at a walled property in Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa state.

The arrest of Pérez Salas, who was wanted on U.S. charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl, marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had offered a $3 million reward for information leading to his capture. However, Pérez Salas is not only wanted for drug-related offenses but is also believed to be responsible for a string of violent crimes, including murder and torture, in Mexico.

Pérez Salas was allegedly involved in protecting the sons of the imprisoned drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The sons, who lead the “Chapitos” faction of the cartel, have gained notoriety as one of the main exporters of fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, to the United States. Fentanyl has been linked to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually in the U.S.

Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York revealed that Pérez Salas commanded a ruthless security team known as the Ninis, described as “particularly violent” personnel for the Chapitos. The indictment unsealed in April stated that the Ninis received extensive military-style training, including urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper proficiency.

The nickname “Nini” is believed to refer to a Mexican slang term used to describe young individuals who neither work nor study. Pérez Salas, according to prosecutors, took part in the torture of a Mexican federal agent in 2017, subjecting him to a two-hour ordeal that involved inserting a corkscrew into his muscles and placing hot chiles in the wounds.

Furthermore, Pérez Salas is accused of conducting deadly experiments with fentanyl on victims who were restrained, injected, and ultimately succumbed to the drug’s effects.

In a related development, Ovidio Guzman López, one of the Chapitos, was extradited to the United States in September to face charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses. His father, El Chapo, is currently serving a life sentence in the U.S.

The arrest of Pérez Salas and the extradition of Guzman López represent significant blows to the operations of the Sinaloa drug cartel. These high-profile arrests underscore the ongoing efforts of Mexican and U.S. authorities to dismantle drug trafficking networks and curb the flow of dangerous narcotics into the United States.

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