Two leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel face narco-terrorism charges for allegedly trafficking large amounts of drugs into the US, as per federal officials.
The individuals, Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were indicted and charged with narco-terrorism, material support of terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering. They are said to be members of the Beltran Leyva Organization (BLO), a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Additionally, five other BLO leaders face charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The charges come after the Trump administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Feb. 20.
According to prosecutors, Noriega and his son are accused of collaborating to produce and traffic fentanyl into the US. Court documents suggest that they are at the helm of one of the world’s most extensive and sophisticated fentanyl production networks.
Rainbow colored fentanyl pills and fentanyl bricks with “Louis Vuitton” and “Rolls Royce” stamps. (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.
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.
1,500-kilogram fentanyl seizure associated with the charges. (DOJ)
“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.
