Latest news with #PedroInzunzaNoriega
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
‘No longer the hunters, you're the hunted': US indicts Sinaloa Cartel leaders on narco-terrorism charges
Representative image (Picture credit: ICE) Two top leaders of a violent faction within Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel have been indicted on unprecedented narco-terrorism charges after allegedly trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl into the United States. Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, are now facing terrorism-related offences in a federal case unsealed on Tuesday, as announced by US attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. The pair are accused of leading 'one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world,' said Gordon, who warned cartel leaders during a press briefing, 'You are no longer the hunters. You are the hunted.' The indictment is the first by the department of justice's newly formed Narco-Terrorism Unit and follows the Trump administration's designation of the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in February, under Executive Order 14157. According to the news agency Associated Press, this is a rare move as such labels are typically reserved for politically motivated terrorist groups. The father-son duo, along with five other leaders of the Beltrán Leyva Organization (BLO), a powerful offshoot of the Sinaloa Cartel, have been charged with narco-terrorism, providing material support to terrorism, drug trafficking , and money laundering. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo The BLO has long been known for its brutal tactics including kidnappings, torture and murders, and operates with violent impunity across Mexico and Central America, including Tijuana. Federal officials, citing court documents, allege the Inzunzas trafficked 'tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl' into the US. On December 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement seized more than 1.65 tons of fentanyl from locations in Sinaloa tied to the duo, reportedly the largest fentanyl seizure globally, according to ICE. 'These charges highlight the unwavering efforts of transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel to flood our communities with deadly drugs,' said Shawn Gibson, ICE HSI 's San Diego special agent in charge. The case stems from 'Operation Take Back America,' a nationwide DOJ initiative to dismantle cartels and transnational crime . US attorney general Pamela Bondi declared, 'Their days of brutalizing the American people without consequence are over, we will seek life in prison for these terrorists.' FBI San Diego's acting special agent in charge Houtan Moshrefi added that the cartel's activities 'not only destroy lives and communities, but also threaten our national security.' Other indicted cartel leaders include Fausto Isidro Meza Flores ('Chapo Isidro'), Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe ('El Musico'), and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar ('El Chapito'). All remain fugitives. Pedro Inzunza Noriega, also known as 'Sagitario,' reportedly operates from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, and is paralysed following a past attack by rival cartel members, as per AP. The charges carry penalties ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment, including multimillion-dollar fines. The case is being prosecuted by assistant US attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton.
New York Post
14-05-2025
- New York Post
Sinaloa cartel leaders charged with narco-terrorism after authorities seize nearly 2 tons of fentanyl
Two leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel were hit with narco-terrorism charges on Tuesday for their involvement in allegedly trafficking 'massive' amounts of drugs into the United States, according to federal officials. Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were both named in an unsealed federal indictment on Tuesday and charged with narco-terrorism, material support of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering as members of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), which is a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Advertisement Five other BLO leaders were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. The charges come after the Trump administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Feb. 20. Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Noriega works closely with his son to both produce and 'aggressively traffic' fentanyl into the United States. 5 Rainbow colored fentanyl pills and fentanyl bricks with 'Louis Vuitton' and 'Rolls Royce' stamps. DOJ Advertisement 5 1,500-kilogram fentanyl seizure associated with the charges. DOJ They allege that the two have led 'one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world.' Authorities said that the father and son have trafficked 'tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl' into the United States. 5 Pedro Inzunza Noriega is the alleged leader of the Beltrán Leyva organization. DOJ Advertisement According to federal prosecutors, Tuesday's indictment is the first of its kind from the Department of Justice's newly formed Narco-Terrorism Unit. On Dec. 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement officials raided several locations in Sinaloa that are controlled and managed by the pair, seizing more than 1.65 tons of fentanyl. 5 1,680-kilogram cocaine seizure in Mexico City. DOJ Indictments are also pending against members of the BLO and Sinaloa Cartel, which include Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Ismael Zambada Sicairos and Jose Gil Caro Quintero. Advertisement All individuals, as well as Noriega and Coronel, remain at-large. 5 This handout picture released on February 17, 2025, by the Mexican Army shows a Mexican soldier dressed in a biosecurity suit dismantling a drug production laboratory in Cosala, Sinaloa State, Mexico. MEXICAN ARMY/AFP via Getty Images Adam Gordon, US Attorney for the Southern District of California, had a message for members of the Sinaloa Cartel during a press conference on Tuesday. 'Let me be direct: To the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, you are no longer the hunters. You are the hunted. You will be betrayed by your friends. You will be hounded by your enemies, and you will ultimately find yourself and your face here in a courtroom in the Southern District of California,' Gordon said.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sinaloa cartel leaders charged with narco-terrorism after authorities seize 1.65 tons of fentanyl
Two leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel were hit with narco-terrorism charges on Tuesday for their involvement in allegedly trafficking "massive" amounts of drugs into the United States, according to federal officials. Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were both named in an unsealed federal indictment on Tuesday and charged with narco-terrorism, material support of terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering as members of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), which is a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Five other BLO leaders were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. The charges come after the Trump administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Feb. 20. Prosecutors alleged in court documents that Noriega works closely with his son to both produce and "aggressively traffic" fentanyl into the United States. They allege that the two have led "one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world." Sinaloa Cartel Slapped With Trump Admin Sanctions In Blow To Drug Empire Authorities said that the father and son have trafficked "tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl" into the United States. According to federal prosecutors, Tuesday's indictment is the first of its kind from the Department of Justice's newly formed Narco-Terrorism Unit. Read On The Fox News App On Dec. 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement officials raised several locations in Sinaloa that are controlled and managed by the pair, seizing more than 1.65 tons of fentanyl. Sinaloa Cartel Takes Root In American Neighborhoods: Where Are They? Indictments are also pending against members of the BLO and Sinaloa Cartel, which include Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Ismael Zambada Sicairos and Jose Gil Caro Quintero. All individuals, as well as Noriega and Coronel, remain at-large. Adam Gordon, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, had a message for members of the Sinaloa Cartel during a press conference on Tuesday. "Let me be direct: To the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, you are no longer the hunters. You are the hunted. You will be betrayed by your friends. You will be hounded by your enemies, and you will ultimately find yourself and your face here in a courtroom in the Southern District of California," Gordon article source: Sinaloa cartel leaders charged with narco-terrorism after authorities seize 1.65 tons of fentanyl
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Father-son cartel leaders charged for allegedly running fentanyl network
A father-son duo and other Sinaloa cartel leaders were charged Tuesday with allegedly trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States, the Department of Justice said. Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, ran one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks, federal prosecutors said in a news release. The Department of Justice said the duo were leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organization, a powerful and violent faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Five other leaders were also charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. The pair trafficked tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl into the U.S., the federal government alleged, and more than 1.65 tons of fentanyl was seized from their holdings by the Mexican government — the largest seizure of fentanyl in the world. "The Sinaloa Cartel is a complex, dangerous terrorist organization and dismantling them demands a novel, powerful legal response," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in the statement. "Their days of brutalizing the American people without consequence are over — we will seek life in prison for these terrorists." President Trump has designated eight Latin American drug trafficking organizations as terrorist organizations, including Mexico's two main drug trafficking organizations: the Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa cartels. Mr. Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in the White House saying that the cartels "constitute a national security threat beyond that posed by traditional organized crime." In the months since, the Department of Justice has charged several alleged cartel leaders, including two brothers accused of being leaders of La Nueva Familia Michoacana. Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga are accused of participating in a conspiracy to manufacture cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl and importing and distributing the drugs in the U.S., authorities said during an April news conference in Atlanta. Sixteen people were also arrested earlier this month and 3 million pills laced with fentanyl were seized in what federal prosecutors said was the "largest fentanyl bust in DEA history." Democrats also urged Trump administration officials to use the designation of Latin American cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations to take action to curtail the flow of American-made guns across the southern border. April inflation report shows impact of Trump tariffs on auto parts Key takeaways from Day 1 of Trump's Middle East trip MLB makes Pete Rose, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and others eligible for Hall of Fame
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
First-in-the-nation indictment charges Sinaloa cartel leaders with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — U.S. officials have formally charged leaders of the Sinaloa cartel with terrorism-related charges related to trafficking drugs into the United States. Leaders are calling this a milestone case. The indictment, which was just unsealed Tuesday, is the first-of-its-kind in the nation. 'To the leaders of the Sinaloa cartel, you are no longer the hunters, you are the hunted, you will be betrayed by your friends, you will be hounded by your enemies and you will ultimately find your fate here in the Southern District of California,' U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the unsealed indictment on Tuesday, charging alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States. DOJ: 22 charged for role in drug trafficking organization linked to Beltran Leyva Cartel According to the DOJ, Pedro Inzunza Noriega (aka 'Sagitario,' aka '120,'aka 'El De La Silla') and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel (Aka 'Pichon,' Aka 'Pajaro,' Aka 'Bird'), are facing narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering charges as alleged key leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organization, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel that is believed to be the world's largest known fentanyl production network. Five other BLO leaders are also charged with drug trafficking and money laundering, the DOJ reports: David Alejandro Heredia Velazquez (Aka 'Tano,' Aka 'Mr. Jordan') Oscar Rene Gonzalez Menendez (Aka 'Rubio') Elias Alberto Quiros Benavides Daniel Eduardo Bojorquez (Aka 'Chopper') Javier Alonso Vazquez Sanchez (Aka 'Tito', Aka 'Drilo') According to court documents, since its inception, the Beltran Leyva faction has been considered one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations to operate in Mexico, engaging in shootouts, murders, kidnappings, torture and violent collection of drug debts to sustain its operations. The court alleges 'the Beltran Leyva faction controls numerous territories and plazas throughout Mexico — including Tijuana — and operates with violent impunity, trafficking in deadly drugs, threatening communities, and targeting key officials, all while making millions of dollars from their criminal activities.' DOJ: 16 indicted in San Diego for allegedly distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin across US According to the indictment, Pedro Inzunza Noriega worked with his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, to produce and traffic fentanyl to the United States. Court documents allege that the father and son were leading one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world. Over the past several years, they are alleged to have trafficked tens of thousands of kilograms of fentanyl into the United States. On December 3, 2024, Mexican law enforcement raided multiple locations in Sinaloa that reportedly were controlled and managed by the father and son, seizing 1,500 kilograms (more than 1.65 tons) of fentanyl — which is reported to be the largest seizure of fentanyl in the world. According to the DOJ, Federal drug trafficking indictments are pending against all alleged leaders of the Beltran Leyva faction, including: Fausto Isidro Meza Flores (aka 'Chapo Isidro') Oscar Manuel Gastelum Iribe (aka 'El Musico') Pedro Inzunza Noriega (aka 'Sagitario') The Southern District of California also has indictments pending against other alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, including: Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar (aka 'El Chapito') Ismael Zambada Sicairos (aka 'Mayito Flaco') Jose Gil Caro Quintero (aka 'El Chino') The DOJ says this indictment is a result of President Trump's Executive Order 14157, which designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the Secretary of State's subsequent designation of the same on February 20, 2025. 'El Chapo'-linked narcotrafficker sentenced for moving millions of dollars worth of cocaine It is the first indictment from the newly formed Narco-Terrorism Unit which was established upon the swearing in of U.S. Attorney Gordon on April 11, 2025. Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation in this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, and the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. Zara Barker contributed to this report Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
