Sigma Live

Mexico: Arrest of Alleged US-Indicted 'Narco-Terrorist'

Published January 2, 2026, 07:11
Mexico: Arrest of Alleged US-Indicted 'Narco-Terrorist'

Mexican authorities have arrested Pedro Inzunza Noriega, a man indicted in the United States for 'narco-terrorism' and large-scale drug trafficking, including fentanyl. Noriega was the second-in-command of the Beltran Leyva organization, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, believed to be involved in the production of various narcotics. The arrest comes after years of charges from the US government, which has designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a 'foreign terrorist organization'. Noriega's son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, was killed by Mexican military forces in November. Both men were indicted by the US for fentanyl trafficking, with the Department of Justice pursuing charges of 'narco-terrorism' and 'material support of terrorism'. This arrest is part of a broader effort by Mexico to respond to US pressure to combat drug trafficking. Former President Trump had threatened to dramatically increase tariffs if Mexico did not reduce the flow of drugs into the US. The current government of Claudia Sheinbaum has increased arrests and seizures to avoid the imposition of these tariffs. The state of Sinaloa, where the arrest took place, is plagued by violent clashes between different cartel factions. This internal war has claimed the lives of hundreds of people since September 2024. Noriega's arrest is expected to have a significant impact on the balance of power in the region and the effort to combat violence.