Edgar Herrera Pardo, aka El Caiman (The Alligator), an alleged violent cartel enforcer suspected of leading a group known as Los Cabos in Mexico, was extradited to the US on August 2 to face federal drug trafficking charges.
Herrera Pardo's Los Cabos group, which operated in Mexico's Baja California state, allegedly helped the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, commonly known as Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), traffic drugs, including methamphetamine, through Tijuana into the US.
According to Times of San Diego, Los Cabos is accused of plotting more than 150 murders in just six months. Daily Star reported that Herrera Pardo is closely linked to CJNG drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes aka 'El Mencho'.
CJNG is known for allegedly forcing new members into cannibalism and sharing videos of cartel members feasting on the hearts of its enemies as part of its methods of intimidation, according to Daily Mail.
Herrera Pardo was apprehended by authorities in Mexico on August 5, 2019, and has been in custody there until he arrived in San Diego on August 2, 2023. He was charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances for purpose of unlawful importation and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Both charges amount to a maximum penalty of 10 years to life in prison and $10 million fine each.
“Drug trafficking is a violent crime,” said Shelly Howe, DEA Special Agent in-Charge. “The alleged actions of Edgar Herrera Pardo demonstrate the devastation that drug trafficking can have on a community. The DEA and its partners at the local, state, and federal level are dedicated to protecting the community from the dangerous actions of people like Herrera Pardo.”
The extradition was carried out as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the US using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
US agencies including Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, US Marshals Service, DOJ's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, DOJ's Office of Enforcement Operations, DOJ's Office of International Affairs and San Diego Sheriff’s Department were part of the investigation.
US Attorney Randy Grossman said Herrera Pardo and his group of enforcers allegedly “unleashed appalling violence on Tijuana on behalf of a powerful drug cartel that is responsible for moving large quantities of illicit drugs into the US.”
“This extradition shows that those who put American lives at risk through trafficking of dangerous substances will be held responsible, wherever they may be. The Department of Justice appreciates the cooperation of the Mexican authorities in this matter. With the assistance of our law enforcement colleagues at home and around the world, we will aggressively pursue drug traffickers and bring them to justice.”
