Mexican naval forces say they killed a man wanted by U.S. authorities on charges of trafficking large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine during an anti-drug operation in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.
Operational details
Officials identified the deceased as Pedro Inzunza Coronel, also known by the alias "Pichon." Mexico's security secretary, Omar García Harfuch, confirmed the death on social media, saying the operation was led by the Secretariat of the Navy.
“In an operation led by the Secretariat of the Navy... two operators of this criminal cell were detained and upon attacking the naval personnel, Pedro 'N' Pichon lost his life,” García Harfuch said.
Authorities said two other suspected members of the criminal cell were detained. Mexican officials characterized the action as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle violent organized crime networks operating in the region.
Allegations and seizures
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Coronel and his father, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering. U.S. prosecutors allege the pair led a faction of the Beltrán Leyva Organization and were responsible for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl into the United States.
Mexican authorities say they seized more than 1.65 metric tons of fentanyl from properties tied to the pair — described by officials as among the largest fentanyl hauls on record — and released images of seized fentanyl and cocaine linked to the case.
Diplomatic context
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson wrote that Inzunza was accused of "murders, kidnappings, torture, and violent debt collection for drug trafficking," and praised the operation as an example of bilateral cooperation against transnational crime.
The operation comes amid increased pressure from the U.S. on Mexico to step up anti-drug measures. Since January, the U.S. administration has publicly urged Mexico to intensify efforts, and Mexico has cooperated in high-profile extraditions: in August, the Mexican government extradited 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States under an agreement with U.S. authorities.
This report focuses on official statements and allegations from Mexican and U.S. authorities; criminal charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
