The Attorney General's Office of the Republic (FGR) informed that Jorge Alberto Soto Rodas, alias 'La Gorda', an alleged member of an organization linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, was extradited to the United States. The handover took place at the Toluca International Airport, State of Mexico, in compliance with the Extradition Treaty between both countries. Soto Rodas is wanted by the Federal Court for the Eastern District of Texas, where he faces charges for criminal association and drug-related offenses.
According to authorities, his role within the Sinaloa Cartel involved acquiring, transporting, and trafficking drugs from Guatemala to Mexico and subsequently to the United States. He was arrested in 2023 in the state of Puebla, and after a judicial process, his extradition was approved. The transfer was carried out with the presence of U.S. agents in charge of his custody and transportation. The FGR indicated that this action is part of the international commitments undertaken by Mexico in combating transnational organized crime.
The extradition of 'La Gorda' occurs just a few days after the Mexican government executed an unprecedented operation that resulted in the transfer of 29 drug traffickers to the United States on February 27. Among the extradited are notable figures such as Rafael Caro Quintero, linked to the assassination of DEA agent Enrique Camarena; Miguel Ángel Treviño Morales (Z-40) and Omar Treviño Morales (Z-42), former leaders of the Zetas cartel; and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes (Tony Montana), financial operator of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
This massive operation involved more than 3,500 police and military personnel and took place in a complicated diplomatic context. The extraditions have been interpreted as a response to pressures from the U.S. government, which has linked drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, to trade threats such as the imposition of tariffs on Mexican exports. In total, the 29 extradited face charges including drug trafficking, homicide, money laundering, and conspiracy.
