The US, the Next Stop? These are the Drug Traffickers Arrested in Mexico who Have Extradition Orders Against Them

2025 will be marked in history, in terms of security, by the agreed-upon handover between the Mexican and US governments of 55 drug lords who for years trafficked large quantities of narcotics into the United States.

These were two separate transfers that took place on Thursday, February 27 (29 drug lords) and Tuesday, August 12 (26 drug lords), in which drug traffickers of the caliber of Rafael Caro Quintero, El Z-40, and El Z-42, as well as high-ranking members of Los Chapitos—who were arrested this same year—set foot on US soil to face justice.

Although President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo recently denied that another mass extradition of drug lords to the United States would occur at this time, she left the door open for cases in which the criminals have an extradition order. Here we tell you which drug traffickers have such an order.

Extradition of drug lords to the US

In early December, the US newspaper The Wall Street Journal reported that Mexico and the United States were discussing a possible third extradition of drug traffickers; however, days later, Sheinbaum assured that the Security Cabinet wasn’t planning another mass transfer of criminals, although she did not rule out that it could happen in the future.

—“It has been reported that Mexico is going to hand over another group of alleged criminals to the United States, is this confirmed, is that true?”—the President was asked during a “Morning Press Conference.”

“No, no. What happens is, when there is an extradition request and a person is arrested and, for example, doesn’t have an arrest warrant here (in Mexico), they are normally deported,” she replied.

MILENIO compiled a list of the drug traffickers arrested during 2025, highlighting that some drug lords have an extradition order to the United States. Here are the drug lords wanted by US justice:

1. El 02: Member of the Cabrera Sarabia organization and ally of La Mayiza

On December 2, elements of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the armed forces arrested 11 alleged members of Los Fariseos, a criminal cell affiliated with the Pacific Cartel (Sinaloa Cartel), including Roberto ‘N’, alias El 02.

Among the notable details, it was revealed that El 02 has an extradition order to the United States. Without providing further details on why the drug lord is wanted in that country, it was learned that the man is one of the main instigators of violence in the municipalities of Aldama, Coyame del Sotol, and Manuel Benavides, in the state of Chihuahua.

Allegedly, El 02 is directly responsible for confrontations in Ojinaga between the La Línea and Cabrera Sarabia groups; the latter being one of the most important and powerful allies that La Mayiza has in its war against Los Chapitos.

El 02 was arrested while federal agents were conducting patrols in the town of El Pueblito, in the municipality of Aldama, where they were attacked with gunfire. They repelled the attack and brought the situation under control.

Following these events, the arrest of Roberto ‘N’ and 10 other criminals was reported, whose identities weren’t revealed.  In addition, federal authorities seized 11 long guns, two machine guns, two Barrett rifles, three vehicles, various explosive devices, and a drone.

Information indicated that El 02 was an important member of the Cabrera Sarabia group, a criminal faction—led by Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, El Inge or King of Heroin—that the United States has identified as responsible for coordinating and gathering resources to smuggle drugs from Mexico to the US.

According to the Treasury Department, the Cabrera brothers have always been powerful allies of Ismael El Mayo Zambada García, whom they helped traffic marijuana, heroin, and opium poppies to the United States.

In 2020, the King of Heroin was extradited to the United States, where he negotiated a plea agreement. Three years later, Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois sentenced him to 19 years in prison.

2. El Tavo, of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel: Harfuch confirmed that the US is seeking him

In early December, the arrest of Gustavo Antonio Camacho Espinoza, El Tavo, a key leader of the remnants of the Beltrán Leyva cartel, was also reported.

Following his capture, it was reported that El Tavo was a priority target and the main instigator of violence in Tijuana, Baja California, where elements of the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), the SSPC, and the National Guard arrested him along with four other alleged criminals.

During the operation, federal authorities seized nine kilograms and 330 pills of fentanyl, five weapons, ammunition, and two properties.

Omar García Harfuch, head of the SSPC, emphasized that El Tavo’s arrest was the “result of intelligence work to curb the production and trafficking of drugs to the United States,” where the drug lord faces charges for trafficking illicit substances.

3. El Chalamán: another relative of El Mencho who could be extradited to the US

In August, federal authorities arrested José Luis Sánchez Valencia, El Chalamán, in the state of Colima. He is an alleged member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and a relative of the organization’s leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho, although his exact relationship wasn’t specified.

After the news broke, it was reported that El Chalamán has a provisional arrest warrant for extradition to the United States for drug trafficking and criminal conspiracy.

It should be noted that this man is wanted by the US government for drug trafficking and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and precursors.

El Chalamán was arrested during an operation by the Mexican Navy, the Criminal Investigation Agency, and the SSPC in the metropolitan area of ​​Colima and Villa de Álvarez.

His capture took place near Benito Juárez Avenue, where security agents identified a man who matched the suspect’s description. After verifying his identity, the provisional arrest warrant for extradition against him was executed.

Although his exact relationship to El Mencho is unknown, José Luis Sánchez Valencia stands out primarily because of his last name, which matches that of the CJNG leader’s wife and stepson: Rosalinda González Valencia and Carlos Valencia González. Therefore, El Chalamán could be a relative by marriage.

Another drug lord with the same last name linked to El Mencho is Erick Valencia Salazar, El 85—who is now imprisoned in the United States—a drug trafficker with whom he formed the CJNG.

What is happening with the Don Rodo case?

One would think that, after El Chalamán, the United States would first target another relative of El Mencho. Such is the case of Abraham Oseguera Cervantes, Don Rodo, brother of the CJNG leader, who was arrested on February 28 of this year in the town of Atajeas de Covarrubias, Jalisco.

However, a month after his capture, a district judge granted a provisional injunction ordering federal authorities to halt any action aimed at banishing or expelling Don Rodo from the country.

Subsequently, the U.S. government notified the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) —both in Mexico— that they haven’t yet requested the extradition of El Mencho’s brother.

Abraham Oseguera is allegedly responsible for laundering his brother Nemesio’s money through the purchase of ranches, land, and properties.

4. The arrest of El Mando R alerted U.S. authorities

A special case on this list is that of Ricardo ‘N’, better known as El Ricky or El Mando R, an alleged member of the Northeast Cartel who, when he was arrested, prompted the U.S. government to issue an alert for personnel in the border region to take shelter due to the capo’s dangerous profile.

It is known that El Mando R was the second most important man in the criminal organization, below Juan Cisneros Treviño, Juanito Treviño.

Ricardo ‘N’ participated in and coordinated operational cells called Los Chukys, who attacked military groups in Nuevo Laredo, where five soldiers were wounded and two were killed.

In addition, in 2022 he also murdered six members of the Nuevo León State Police and was identified as the mastermind behind various murders, attacks on police officers, and extortions in the region.

The capo served as the regional head of the Northeast Cartel in Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, and Coahuila. He had two arrest warrants:

* 1) For the crimes of attempted homicide against official institutions and public servants

*

* 2) For damages caused by fire, explosion, and flooding, including kidnapping and aggravated homicide.

*

Although there is no official extradition order, the alert issued by the consulate reveals that the United States is aware of the criminal’s illicit activities and his high degree of influence within the cartel.

5. El Toner, the capo who survived La Perris’s betrayal

Luis Alfonso ‘N’, El Toner, identified as a member of the Los Chapitos faction, was arrested in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and transferred to the Aguaruto prison.

According to the National Registry of Detentions (RND), El Toner was officially arrested on February 26 after being wounded in a shootout.

The man arrived on his own at a private hospital in the Gabriel Leyva neighborhood, north of Culiacán, to receive medical attention. Luis Alfonso ‘N’ remained at that health center for several days until he was discharged and subsequently arrested.

El Toner served as head of security for Los Chapitos and operated under the orders of El Güerito and El 200, also arrested this year.

The man also known as El Bellaco assumed leadership of the faction led by Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, after Juan Luis Castro Morales, El Gavilán, was killed in a confrontation on January 6.

6. The Golden Boy of the Sinaloa Cartel

Rafael ‘N’, better known as El Niño de Oro (The Golden Boy), alleged sub-boss of the Sinaloa Cartel in the eastern part of the state.

The man is identified as one of the main perpetrators of violence in the state, where he has participated in crimes such as homicide, extortion, and robbery. According to information obtained by MILENIO, Rafael ‘N’ owns three properties in the municipality of Atlatlahucan, in eastern Morelos, which he used as a hideout to avoid being arrested by the authorities and to carry out his illicit operations.

The capo was identified as the second-in-command of the organization in that area of ​​the state, second only to a criminal identified as Júpiter Araujo, El Barbas.

The alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel is linked to the armed attack against the former mayor of the municipality of Atlatlahucan, Alma Delia Reyes Linares, in 2023, when MILENIO reported that at least two men opened fire on the public official’s home. Therefore, the Mexican government might not release him so easily.

Historical Drug Traffickers

In addition to the names already listed, some historical figures in the world of Mexican drug trafficking stand out who are still imprisoned in Mexican territory, but given their relevance in drug trafficking, they could be of interest to the United States in the future. Among them are:

7. El Marro, founder of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel

José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, El Marro, leader and founder of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL), is incarcerated at Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 14 in Durango.

Considered the top figure in fuel theft in Mexico, the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador made him one of its priority targets as part of its strategy to combat fuel theft in the country.

According to information from the Mexican government, El Marro built a regional criminal organization based in Guanajuato, from where he directed operations to extract fuel from Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), as well as other criminal activities, such as robberies and extortion.

Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and its leader: El Marro.

8. Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo: the leader of the Guadalajara Cartel

Another case is that of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo. At some point in his life he was known as El Jefe de Jefes (The Boss of Bosses), but for more than three decades the founder of the Guadalajara Cartel has been another inmate at the El Altiplano prison in the State of Mexico. Following his arrest on April 8, 1989, Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo was initially sentenced to 40 years in prison for stockpiling firearms and illegally importing cocaine into the country, and later to 37 years for the murder of DEA special agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.

Although Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo was linked to crimes similar to those of his former partner Rafael Caro Quintero, the reason why he didn’t face extradition proceedings, despite the years he has been in the custody of Mexican authorities, remains unknown.

Source: Milenio