According to journalist Ioan Grillo, the Mexican government is preparing a new roundup of 40 more drug lords from prisons and other detention centers across the country. Among these potential targets is Abigael González Valencia, alias “El Cuini,” one of the alleged most important financial operators of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Sources consulted by Grillo himself revealed that the new batch of lords will be sent to US custody. Furthermore, these organized crime leaders are expected to be subject to an “extraordinary transfer process.” This, according to a senior US official, would mean that the priority targets of President Donald Trump’s administration cannot evade the death penalty, which is pardoned in formal extradition proceedings with Mexico.
“US officials have been instructed to refer to the expulsions as an ‘extraordinary transfer process,’ according to a US government official. This exposes alleged cartel leaders to the death penalty, which is typically waived during formal extradition proceedings with Mexico,” Grillo explained.
FGR to Seek Its Own Terrorism Charges
Another point Ioan Grillo highlights in his revelations is that the Attorney General’s Office (FGR)—headed by Alejandro Gertz Manero—is reportedly seeking to file its own charges for acts of terrorism in Mexico. The measure, according to US government sources, is part of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s administration’s efforts to continue negotiations regarding the imposition of tariffs on various Mexican products.
“The Mexican prosecutor’s office is also considering filing its own terrorism charges against cartel members, which could reinforce the controversial argument in favor of the expulsions, according to the source (consulted by the journalist),” Grillo says.
This comes amid the controversy sparked by the haste in the “handover” of the first 29 criminal leaders, which led to the “trampling” of extradition processes and the Mexican attorney general himself invoking an archaic National Security Law.
On April 1, 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that there are “more lists” of alleged drug trafficking leaders who are eligible for extradition to the United States. During her morning press conference, she emphasized her government’s willingness to collaborate in this process. She also noted that these lists are not new and that cooperation has been ongoing for some time.
“There are more extradition lists, and to the extent that we can cooperate, we will. So, yes, there are, but they’ve been for some time, not just now. In addition to the 29 people already there,” the president explained from the National Palace.
She also emphasized that, in addition to the 29 people already extradited in February, there are other names included in these lists. However, she clarified that no special request has been received to expedite these procedures and that any progress will depend on the joint work between both nations.
These statements come amid growing pressure from the United States government for Mexico to intensify its efforts in the fight against drug trafficking. The extradition of key organized crime figures has been a strategy used by the Sheinbaum Pardo administration to strengthen bilateral cooperation and address Washington’s security demands.
Source: infobae
