Mexico transfers 26 cartel figures wanted by US authorities in deal with Trump administration
Those handed over to US custody include Abigael Gonzalez Valencia, a leader of 'Los Cuinis,' a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG.
Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection to the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups.
The transfers are a milestone for the Trump administration, which is made dismantling dangerous drug cartels a key Justice Department priority. It's the second time in months that Mexico has expelled cartel figures accused of narcotics smuggling, murder and other crimes amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs onto American streets.
'These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'We are grateful to Mexico's National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.'
The cartel figures were put on planes to the US after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members sent to the US in February. That transfer was of 29 cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a US DEA agent in 1985.
'This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity,' US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a statement.
'These fugitives will now face justice in US courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies.' The February transfers came as Mexican officials were trying to head off the Trump administration's threat of imposing tariffs on Mexican imports.
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30 percent tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.
Sheinbaum has shown a willingness to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of Mexico's cartels. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to Mexico's sovereignty, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the US military.
Also included in the group expelled Tuesday was Servando Gomez Martinez, also known as 'La Tuta,' a former school teacher who became one of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords as head of the Knights Templar cartel. He was captured in 2015 and sentenced to 55 years in a Mexican prison in June 2019.
Gomez led the quasi-religious criminal group that once exercised absolute control over Michoacan and he liked to appear in interviews and videos. The cartel orchestrated politics, controlled commerce, dictated rules and preached a code of ethics around devotion to God and family, even as it murdered and plundered.
Abigael Gonzalez Valencia is the brother-in-law of CJNG leader Nemesio Ruben 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, a top target of the US government. Abigael Gonzalez Valencia was arrested in February 2015 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and had been fighting extradition to the United States since then. The US government has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to 'El Mencho's' arrest or conviction.
Alongside his two brothers, Abigael Gonzalez Valencia led 'Los Cuinis,' which financed the the founding and growth of the CJNG, one of the most powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico. CJNG traffics hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States and other countries and is known for extreme violence, murders, torture, and corruption.
One of his brothers, Jose Gonzalez Valencia, was sentenced in Washington's federal court in June to 30 years in a US prison after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. Jose González Valencia was arrested in 2017 under the first Trump administration at a beach resort in Brazil while vacationing with his family under a fake name.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
![[Lee Byung-jong] Is Lee-Trump bromance possible?](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F08%2F14%2Fnews-p.v1.20250814.de9b5effcd2440afb6c47437e0126b08_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[Lee Byung-jong] Is Lee-Trump bromance possible?](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
[Lee Byung-jong] Is Lee-Trump bromance possible?
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, now disgraced and awaiting trial for his ill-fated martial law declaration and other charges, may still be remembered in the United States for one surprisingly warm gesture. During his 2023 state visit to the White House, Yoon famously broke into a rendition of "American Pie," the beloved US pop classic. He was no great vocalist, but the effortless way he delivered the English lyrics showed clear preparation. The performance went viral in the US, and for many Americans, it became a quirky but genuine symbol of Yoon's effort to connect. Now, with just days to go before his own crucial meeting with US President Donald Trump, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung appears to be preparing in his own way -- by practicing his golf swing. Given Trump's well-documented love of the game, Lee seems to be betting that time on the fairway could help establish rapport. The strategy is hardly unprecedented: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe famously used golf to develop a strong personal relationship with Trump during his first term, a dynamic that many believe smoothed Tokyo-Washington relations. Lee may well be hoping to replicate that playbook. But for Lee, good chemistry with Trump would mean more than just pleasant rounds of golf. The upcoming summit will be a defining moment for his presidency and for South Korea's place in the world. On the economic front, the stakes could not be higher. Washington recently announced a 15 percent tariff on Korean exports to the US, tied to conditions that Seoul invest $350 billion in the American economy and purchase $100 billion worth of US energy. The details remain fluid. Trump has also signaled plans to impose a 100 percent tariff on semiconductor imports — a measure that could devastate Korea's flagship industry — though it is not yet clear whether Korean firms might win exemptions. Much of this will be settled in person, and the results will directly affect how much Korean companies can sell in their largest overseas market. Security concerns are equally pressing. The Seoul-Washington alliance, now 72 years old, faces a transformed geopolitical landscape. China's rise, North Korea's growing hostility and deepening Pyongyang-Moscow military ties all demand a strategic rethink. The alliance must expand its scope from deterring North Korean aggression to countering China's military presence in the wider region — an adjustment that would reshape the roles and capacities of both US and Korean forces. Another contentious topic will be defense cost-sharing: Trump has repeatedly demanded steep increases to the roughly 1.5 trillion won ($1.08 billion) South Korea currently pays to host 28,000 American troops. While these decisions will ultimately be driven by national interests and cold calculations, Trump's track record makes clear that personal rapport plays an outsized role in his foreign policy. Leaders he likes — Abe, and even Kim Jong-un — often find negotiations more fruitful. Those who lose his favor, such as former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, can face protracted and bruising disputes. In that regard, Lee begins at a disadvantage. His earlier political career included sharp critiques of US foreign policy. He once described the US as an 'occupying force' responsible for Korea's post-liberation division, and during a meeting with a visiting US senator, he pointedly cited the 1905 Taft-Katsura Agreement as a Washington-endorsed prelude to Japanese colonization of Korea. The remark drew accusations of diplomatic impropriety. Since taking office, however, Lee has worked to shed his perceived anti-American image. He has repeatedly emphasized the centrality of the Seoul-Washington alliance to South Korea's security and, compared with some liberal predecessors — especially former President Moon Jae-in — he has sought closer ties with the US while maintaining greater distance from China. Relations with Japan, which had improved under Yoon after plunging to historic lows under Moon, have also been a priority for Lee to sustain. This shift might reflect his embrace of alliances and internationalism, but some of Lee's closest political allies carry their own history of anti-American activism. His first prime minister, Kim Min-seok, was once convicted for orchestrating a 1985 sit-in at the US cultural center in Seoul, wrongly believing the US had condoned the 1980 Gwangju crackdown. Ruling Democratic Party Chair Jung Chung-rae, a trusted Lee confidant, served four years in prison for his role in a 1989 raid on the US ambassador's residence in Seoul. Today, both men, like Lee, publicly affirm their commitment to the alliance, recognizing the decisive role the US plays in South Korea's trade and security. But their pasts may still color perceptions in Washington, particularly with a president like Trump, who often relies on instinctive judgments of personal loyalty. For Lee, then, the meeting will be about more than policy; it will be about optics, trust and chemistry. Trump is transactional, but also intensely personal. If he feels camaraderie with Lee, negotiations on tariffs, defense spending and military strategy could move more smoothly. If not, Korea may find itself facing tougher demands and fewer concessions.
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
From ashes of war to arsenal of world: South Korea's defense industry boom
As top 10 arms exporter, Seoul's modern weapons soar globally, but guarding tech, talent remains challenge It was 72 years ago that the bloody 1950–53 Korean War ended with an armistice. Today, the once-war-ravaged nation stands among the world's leading arms exporters, its factories turning out advanced tanks, artillery systems and fighter jets destined for battlefields far beyond the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's arms industry is riding a wave of global demand, but the current geopolitical climate brings both opportunity and risk. Its weapons are in high demand for their advanced technology and fast delivery, yet the country must tread carefully, as shifting alliances and regional tensions complicate the path forward. Turning crisis into opportunity South Korea, in recent years, has often been listed among the world's top 10 arms exporters, in the ranks with the United States, Russia and China. It was No. 10 among global arms exporters, with a 2.2 percent share of the market in the 2020-2024 period, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The South Korean government is now setting its sights on breaking into the ranks of the world's top four arms exporters. 'South Korea has rapidly matured into one of the world's leading arms exporters, backed by a highly capable manufacturing base, proven platforms and a track record of delivering on time and at scale,' Yu Ji-hoon, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, told The Korea Herald. Yet it took decades of sustained effort to get this far. In 1971, the United States began withdrawing troops from South Korea, reducing the number of American soldiers stationed there, even as tensions with North Korea persisted in the decades after the Korean War. The withdrawal was carried out under the Richard Nixon administration, which pushed for allied nations to strengthen their own self-defense capabilities. This prompted South Korea to concentrate its efforts on developing and producing advanced weaponry to achieve self-reliance in defense. In 1973, the government launched a full-scale initiative to promote the heavy and chemical industries, a critical component in manufacturing weapons, according to the Korea Development Institute. The Russian arms repayment project, a unique post-Cold War arms-for-debt arrangement between Seoul and Moscow, which started in the late 1980s, was another driving force behind the South's defense industry. Instead of cash repayments, Russia repaid part of the debt with military equipment and related technology. Until the mid-2010s, South Korea's arms exports were largely concentrated in ammunition, naval vessels and some aerospace components. But its export portfolio has since started to diversify and expand. Provider of world-class weapons In South Korea's expanding arms export portfolio, the K2 tank, dubbed "Black Panther' and built by Hyundai Rotem, has been a flagship item. It first entered service with the military here in 2014. The K2 is South Korea's most advanced main battle tank, designed for speed, precision and adaptability on the mountainous Korean Peninsula. In recent years, it has drawn major international orders, most notably from Poland, as militaries seek modern armor to replace aging Cold War units. It is central to South Korea's largest-ever defense export deals, including the one with Poland, signed in 2022,in which Warsaw ordered 180 K2 Black Panther tanks from Hyundai Rotem in a $3.37 billion agreement. Deliveries began within months, far faster than European or American suppliers could offer. In 2025, Warsaw followed with a $6.5 billion contract for 180 upgraded K2PL tanks, to be produced in part in Poland. The two phases, part of a broader plan involving the manufacturing of up to 1,000 K2s, have made Seoul one of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's most important new arms partners and cemented South Korea's status as a major player in the global defense market. Other key weapons in the portfolio are the K239 Chunmoo Multiple Rocket Launcher System, K9 self-propelled howitzer, FA-50 fighter jets and Surion helicopters. Prominent deals made with global clients include K239 Chunmoo MLRS systems purchased by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in 2017 and 2022, respectively. South Korea on Thursday signed a $250 million agreement to supply Vietnam with 20 K9 self-propelled howitzers, marking the weapon's first deployment to a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc. The K9 is already in service in countries such as Turkey and Egypt. Experts say South Korea's growing appeal lies in its weapons' balance of cost and capability — and in its ability to offer buyers comprehensive, tailor-made packages. 'South Korean-manufactured weapons, including the K9 self-propelled howitzer, offer proven performance, interoperability with Western systems and cost-effectiveness,' explained Yu, who is also a former professor of military strategy at the South Korea's Naval Academy. 'More importantly, Seoul has demonstrated willingness to localize production, transfer technology and support customers' domestic capability development.' South Korean arms-makers are increasingly structuring export deals to include technology transfers and licensed local production, allowing buyer nations to build part — or in some cases most — of the weapons on their soil. This approach not only sweetens contracts in competitive bidding, but it also aligns with many countries' desire to develop their domestic defense industries. This is reflected in Hyundai Rotem's Poland deal, as well as Hanwha Aerospace will establish joint production lines for the K9 howitzer and Chunmoo rocket system, with Romania and Poland, respectively. 'It's a key all-in-one package deal strategy played out by South Korean arms manufacturers — providing technology transfer, customized weapons and factories for the buyers,' Choi Gi-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University, said via phone. Rosy future, lingering risks South Korea's arms exports fell to $9.5 billion last year after hitting a record high of $17.3 billion in 2022 and sliding to $13.5 billion in 2023, according to its arms procurement agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. DAPA is cautiously eyeing a $23 billion goal for this year. The agency's ambitions may get a lift this year from favorable geopolitical winds, according to an expert. NATO allies have recently agreed to more than double their defense spending target from 2 percent of gross domestic product to 5 percent by 2035, creating a surge of demand for new equipment. Adding to the momentum, Seoul's latest cooperation with Washington in the shipbuilding sector, under a joint initiative known as 'Make American Shipbuilding Great Again,' is expected to further bolster South Korea's defense export prospects. Seoul has put forward sweeping proposals for joint shipbuilding projects with the US, a move that was reportedly pivotal in securing a tariff agreement with the administration of US President Donald Trump earlier this month. 'Overall, South Korea's defense industry is likely to get a lift this year from NATO's increase in defense spending target and Seoul's role in building American ships, as well as cooperation on maintenance, repair and overhaul projects for the sector,' Choi of Sangji University said. Choi added that South Korea's existing top clients are likely to continue to make steady purchases. 'Looking at global arms exports by region, the most prominent markets include Eastern European countries facing wartime conditions and Middle Eastern nations, where unstable security situations are driving demand,' he noted. However, the new momentum carries its own risks. 'The global trend right now resembles Trump's reshoring policy, aimed at bringing manufacturing and supply chains — particularly in strategic industries — back to the US,' said Choi. 'For South Korea, that could mean a new battle to protect its hard-won edge, guarding against the loss of technology and skilled personnel as it undertakes certain projects.' mkjung@
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Korean tycoons to join Lee for Trump summit
South Korea's top conglomerate leaders will join President Lee Jae Myung on a US visit next week for his summit with US President Donald Trump, aiming to promote major investments in strategic sectors including semiconductors, batteries, automobiles and shipbuilding, according to industry sources Thursday. The Aug. 24-26 trip will feature four chaebol heads — Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo — along with executives from leading shipbuilding, aviation and defense firms. The delegation will be tightly focused on the Aug. 25 White House summit, with the government assembling a compact, high-impact team capable of announcing significant US investments. Samsung is operating and building foundry plants worth $37 billion in Austin and Taylor, Texas, while SK hynix is investing $3.87 billion in an advanced packaging plant for its cutting-edge high bandwidth memory chips in Indiana. Hyundai's Chung met Trump in March, pledging $21 billion in new US projects, including a steel plant. LG Energy Solution is also investing about 30 trillion won ($21.7 billion) across the US, including a 7-trillion-won facility in Arizona. The four chaebol groups are expected to discuss semiconductor expansion and AI chip partnerships, as well as electric vehicle and battery production growth, and Inflation Reduction Act subsidies, during the visit. Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and HD Hyundai Senior Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun, who are part of the delegation, are also expected to announce new deals as their companies are both central to the Korea-US shipbuilding cooperation initiative known as the MASGA project. Hanwha acquired Philly Shipyard last year, while HD Hyundai secured a US Navy maintenance contract. Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae, traveling with the delegation, recently signed $32.7 billion in supply agreements with Boeing and GE Aerospace. Ahead of the departure, the president will meet the delegation to review each company's investment pledges, tailoring the 'Korea Sales' campaign to appeal to Trump's preference for favorable reciprocal deals, sources say. "The summit agenda is expected to cover economic cooperation in manufacturing, advanced technology and key minerals, with an aim to further strengthen the bilateral economic security partnership," Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said.
