MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – The Mexican National Guard on Wednesday captured Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, or “El Nini,” who is accused of heading security for the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel headed by the sons of founder Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
Perez Salas was detained in Culiacan, Sinaloa, a hotspot for the cartel, and was taken to Mexico City, according to government detention records.
He is accused by the U.S. State Department of working under Ivan Archivaldo Guzman to lead the “Ninis,” a violent group of security personnel for the Guzman brothers, also known as “Los Chapitos.”
U.S. courts have indicted Perez Salas on a slew of charges in relation to his alleged role at the helm of the Chapitos’ security apparatus, including cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, possession of machine guns and witness retaliation.
The State Department had offered up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest.
(Reporting by Manuel Carrillo and Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland and Brendan O’Boyle)
