Mexican security forces kill key cartel figure in Sinaloa raid

Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, known as “El Perris” and identified by the U.S. government as a significant member of the criminal group “Los Chapitos,” died during a security operation in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.

The operation, as confirmed by Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, took place in Navolato, approximately 32 kilometres (19 miles) from the state capital, Culiacán, Caliber.Az reports, citing American media.

Figueroa Benítez was a high-profile target for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which had offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his capture. He faced multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to import and traffic fentanyl, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and money laundering conspiracy.

The violent history of Sinaloa’s criminal conflicts includes the 2019 “Culiacanazo,” an episode marked by intense armed clashes after the temporary capture of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Authorities released Ovidio to prevent further bloodshed.

Following his extradition to the United States in 2023, Ovidio Guzmán pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges. However, recent court documents suggest he may change his plea.

In a related development, sources revealed earlier this month that several relatives of Ovidio Guzmán crossed into the United States at the San Ysidro port of entry, reportedly as part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Los Chapitos is a criminal faction that emerged from the Sinaloa Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful and notorious drug trafficking organizations. The name “Los Chapitos” refers to the group led by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel.

By Khagan Isayev