Since February 2025, judicial cooperation between Mexico and the United States on security and the fight against organized crime—particularly regarding the surrender and transfer of inmates linked to drug trafficking—has become evident through the exchange of prisoners.
This phenomenon has been marked by high-impact operations and bilateral agreements aimed at streamlining the administration of justice amid the complexity of transnational cases. During this period, Mexican authorities have sent a total of 92 crime bosses and operators to the United States, while the U.S. has transferred 13 inmates to Mexico to complete their sentences for drug-trafficking offenses.
The Extradition Treaty between Mexico and the United States, in force since 1978 and supported by international protocols, sets out the legal framework through which both countries may request and grant the surrender of individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes that comply with the principle of “dual criminality.” Historically, Mexico was reluctant to extradite its nationals; however, in the current context, cooperation has intensified, partly due to diplomatic pressure and U.S. demands to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and cartel-related violence.
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The First Transfer of Drug Lords to the U.S.
One of the most significant actions took place on February 27, 2025, when the Mexican government transferred 29 high-profile Mexican drug traffickers to various U.S. courts. Among them were leaders of organizations such as the Guadalajara Cartel and former commanders of Los Zetas, whose handovers and removals drew media attention due to their scale and the swift execution of the transfer aboard military aircraft bound for the United States.
Subsequently, in August 2025, another transfer of 26 drug lords requested by U.S. authorities was carried out, further reinforcing bilateral cooperation on justice matters. As a result, by the end of the year Mexico had already handed over 55 leaders and operators of organized crime to U.S. courts and agencies.
The Second Transfer
On August 12, Mexico handed over to the United States another 26 alleged high-profile drug traffickers, including members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel—organizations that Washington designated as terrorist groups in February. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the defendants are accused of trafficking tons of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin into the United States, in what U.S. authorities described as a significant step in the strategy to dismantle the cartels.
Those transferred include Abigael González Valencia, leader of “Los Cuinis” and a financial operator for the CJNG; Servando Gómez Martínez, “La Tuta,” former leader of La Familia Michoacana and the Knights Templar; as well as Juan Carlos Félix Gastelum, “El Chavo Félix,” and Pablo Edwin Huerta, “El Flaquito.” The Mexican government reported that the detainees were being held in different prisons and represented a permanent security risk, which is why they were surrendered through an expedited legal procedure. The administration of Claudia Sheinbaum has justified these actions by stating that, in some cases, allegedly corrupt judges allow drug traffickers to obtain their release through injunctions.
The Third Transfer
This effort continued in January 2026, when the Mexican government announced the transfer of 37 inmates accused of organized crime to the United States.
Authorities emphasized that these prisoners face charges such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and homicide in various U.S. jurisdictions, and that their surrender was carried out under agreements ensuring that the death penalty would not be imposed. This brought the total number of drug lords handed over by Mexico to the United States to 66 in the nearly 12 months since the first operation in 2025.
The U.S. Sends Prisoners to Mexico
In the opposite direction, the United States transferred 13 Mexican prisoners to Mexico who were serving sentences for criminal activities in U.S. prisons. These transfers, based on the international prisoner transfer treaty, allow inmates to complete their sentences in their country of origin. The transfer of these inmates—who were facing charges related to the distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl—was authorized following formal requests and approval by both governments.
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