In a significant blow to the Sinaloa drug cartel, Mexican authorities have arrested Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, also known as "El Nini," the alleged security chief for the “Chapitos” wing of the cartel. The arrest, which took place on Wednesday, was welcomed by President Joe Biden, who expressed gratitude to Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and the Mexican Army for their successful operation.

Perez Salas, who was detained at a property in the Sinaloa state capital of Culiacan, has been wanted on U.S. charges of conspiracy to import and distribute fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration had posted a $3 million reward for his capture. However, his crimes extend beyond drug trafficking. Perez Salas is also allegedly responsible for a trail of murder and torture in Mexico.

Mike Vigil, former head of international operations for the U.S., described Perez Salas as a "complete psychopath." He revealed that Perez Salas protected the sons of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and played a significant role in their drug business. The sons, known as the "Chapitos," lead a faction of the Sinaloa cartel that is notorious for exporting fentanyl to the United States, contributing to the opioid crisis. Fentanyl has been responsible for approximately 70,000 overdose deaths per year in the U.S.

Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have accused Perez Salas of running security for the Chapitos in Sinaloa state. He commanded a violent group known as the Ninis, who received military-style training and engaged in urban warfare, special weapons and tactics, and sniper proficiency. The Ninis were responsible for gruesome acts of violence, including torture and execution of rivals. They even fed some victims, alive or dead, to tigers owned by the Chapitos, who raised the animals as pets.

According to an indictment released by the U.S. Justice Department earlier this year, Perez Salas participated in the torture of a Mexican federal agent in 2017. The victim was subjected to two hours of torture, including the insertion of a corkscrew into his muscles and the placement of hot chiles in his wounds. The Ninis, under Perez Salas' leadership, carried out these acts of violence and also conducted human testing on kidnapped rivals and drug addicts, injecting them with fentanyl until they overdosed and died.

The arrest of Perez Salas comes as a significant development in the fight against drug trafficking, especially the trafficking of fentanyl. President Biden acknowledged the efforts of Mexican authorities and expressed his gratitude for the successful operation. He emphasized that the arrest makes both Mexico and the United States safer.

Perez Salas' capture follows the arrest of Ovidio Guzman Lopez, another member of the Chapitos, in January. Ovidio Guzman, the son of El Chapo, was extradited to the United States in September to face drug trafficking and other charges. El Chapo himself is serving a life sentence in the U.S. prison.

The timing of these arrests has raised speculation, with some suggesting that Mexican President Lopez Obrador may be making gestures of goodwill as he nears the end of his term in office, which concludes in September. Regardless of the motives, the apprehension of Perez Salas marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and violence associated with cartels. The United States is now seeking his swift extradition to face justice.