A high-security operation was carried out on Monday, January 20, 2026, at the Altiplano Federal Social Reintegration Center No. 1, located in the State of Mexico, to transfer 37 inmates to the United States, representing the third mass transfer of high-impact criminals during the current administration.
According to official information from the Security Cabinet, the transfer took place on Tuesday morning and targeted operators of criminal organizations that posed a real threat to national security.
Mexico-United States extradition under bilateral cooperation
Federal authorities reported that the action was carried out in accordance with the National Security Law, through bilateral cooperation mechanisms with the United States, and with full respect for national sovereignty.
The transfer was requested by the U.S. Department of Justice under an agreement that expressly stated that none of the prisoners would face the death penalty, even if they were prosecuted for serious crimes related to drug trafficking and organized crime.
Destinations and logistics of prisoner transfer
The 37 inmates were sent to different cities in the United States, including:
- Washington
- Houston
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- San Antonio
- San Diego
The operation was carried out using seven Armed Forces aircraft, with coordinated air and ground security deployment.
With this action, a total of 92 high-impact criminals have been transferred to the United States so far during the current administration, reducing their capacity to generate violence in Mexican territory.
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Background: previous extraditions and transfers of Mexican drug lords
On February 27, 2025, Mexico carried out one of the most significant transfers by sending Rafael Caro Quintero, a priority target of the DEA, along with 28 other criminal leaders, the U.S. Department of Justice reported at the time.
That group also included:
- Miguel Ángel and Omar Treviño Morales, former leaders of Los Zetas
- Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, brother of the CJNG leader
- Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, of the Juárez Cartel
- José Ángel Canobbio Inzunza, alias “El Güerito,” linked to Los Chapitos
Subsequently, on August 12, 2025, a second mass transfer was carried out with 26 prisoners, including “La Tuta” and “El Z40.”
Who are the prisoners transferred to the United States?
Among the 37 extradited prisoners, five priority targets for Mexican and US authorities stand out:
- Ricardo González Sauceda, alias “El Ricky,” regional leader of the Northeast Cartel
- Pedro Inzunza Noriega, alias “El Señor de la Silla”
- Juan Pablo Bastidas Erenas, alias “Payo Zurita,” logistics operator for Los Beltrán Leyva
- Armando Gómez Núñez, alias “Delta 1,” leader of Los Deltas del CJNG, transferred to Dulles, Washington
- Daniel Alfredo Blanco Joo, alias “El Cubano,” operator for the Pacific Cartel and priority target of the FBI
This new transfer of prisoners from Altiplano to the United States reinforces the strategy of international cooperation against organized crime, focused on dismantling criminal networks, weakening their financial structure, and reducing levels of violence in Mexico.
