So far in 2024, At least eight Guatemalans have been sent to the United States following being accused of drug trafficking.
Most of these criminals are related to families that have been involved in drug trafficking in Guatemala for decades. while the rest belong to smaller cells operating in the country.
One of the drug traffickers extradited to the United States is Ronaldo Ventura Alvarado, alias “Reinita” or “Bigotes”, who He was captured on June 29 in the village of El Naranjo, in La Libertad, Petén.
“Bigotes” is wanted by a judicial court of the district of Texas, USA due to being involved in lthe creation and distribution of a substance that supposedly has “detectable amounts of cocaine.”
According to authorities, Ventura Alvarado had been operating since 2007 in an alleged drug trafficking organizationof which he would have been a part until 2019.
Another captured drug trafficker who was wanted by the US authorities is Juan Jose Morales Cifuentes, alias “Pancho”head of the criminal organization known as “Los Pochos.”
The Guatemalan was also an alleged associate of the Sinaloa Cartel and was extradited to the United States on May 16, where he is accused of “conspiracy to traffic cocaine.”
Morales Cifuentes is the husband of Isel Súñiga, Mayor of Tecun Uman, San Marcosand was arrested on December 11, 2023.
Today we sent 6 extraditables to the United States without stops and via #DEA #FEP #SGAIA @PNCdeGuatemala@mingobguate @usembassyguate pic.twitter.com/TJBAzLTwBL
— Francisco Jimenez (@FJimenezmingob) May 16, 2024
According to the United States Department of the Treasury, the organization “Los Pochos” supplies “tons of cocaine” to leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel who transport it to the United States.
The United States authorities also requested the extradition of Juan José Cordón Salas, better known as “Tartajo”, to appear for trial in the Southern District Court of Florida on charges of drug trafficking.
The Public Ministry (MP) explained that “Tartajo” is accused of committing the crime of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
“Tartajo” was captured on June 7 in Teculután, Zacapa, having an arrest warrant for extradition purposes for multiple crimes related to drug trafficking.
I want to announce to the country that a few minutes ago in Teculután, Zacapa, Alias “Tartajo”, one of the most wanted extraditables in the country, was captured.
A huge job of #SGAIA and intelligence that continue to yield results. @mingobguate 🤝 @PNCdeGuatemala pic.twitter.com/ZBKxjL9SyF
— Francisco Jimenez (@FJimenezmingob) June 7, 2024
Carlos Alexander Guerra y Guerra is another of the Guatemalan drug traffickers extradited to the United Stateswho was captured on April 25 in the parking lot of a shopping center in San José Pinula.
The 38-year-old criminal He was wanted by the District Court of the State of Texas for the crimes of conspiracy as he was allegedly responsible for “directing, managing and facilitating” part of the drug trafficking activities. of an organization to which he belonged from 2018 to 2020.
For his part, Jason Antonio Yang López was another of the criminals extradited to the US following be charged with the crimes of conspiracy to import 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl.
The 42-year-old Guatemalan, captured at the Returnee Reception Center in Ayutla, in San Marco, He was wanted by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida for being part of an organization that transported possible fentanyl to China.
The Fifth Criminal Sentencing Court granted the request for extradition once morest Jason Antonio Yang López, wanted by a Court of the Middle District of Florida, United States.
He is implicated in activities related to drug trafficking.
📷 Erick Avila pic.twitter.com/ntKBeEOXN9
— Elmer Vargas (@evargas_gtv) May 23, 2024
Melvin Hilario Estrada Flores, alias “Layo,” is another of the Guatemalans extradited to the U.S. for being linked to the conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of possible cocaine.
The 35-year-old drug trafficker He was arrested on January 21 in a shopping center in Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango.
Another criminal wanted by the American justice system is Victor Francisco Gallegos Gallardo, alias “El Boludo”who was captured in Los Amates, Izabal following firing a weapon during a soccer game.
After the analysis of the authorities it was determined that He had an arrest warrant for extradition purposes to the United States for drug trafficking crimes
Alias “Reinita” captured for extradition to the United States
An operation led by anti-narcotics agents of SGAIA-PNC in the village of El Naranjo, La Libertad, Petén, captured Ronaldo Ventura Alvarado, 61 years old, alias “Reinita” pic.twitter.com/SYAIUXUqiG
— PNC de Guatemala (@PNCdeGuatemala) June 29, 2024
Finally, the first extraditable of 2024 was arrested on January 3 in Antigua Guatemala. This is Luis Enrique Ruiz Morales, alias “Manía”, who is wanted for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine with the intention of carrying out its illegal importation into the United States of America.
He is identified as a “high-profile drug trafficker” by national authorities. He is linked to the clan of Juan José Morales Cifuentes, husband of Isel Súñiga, mayor of Ayutla, San Marcos.
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