Mexican federal police escort who they identify as Servando "La Tuta" Gmez," leader of the Knights Templar cartel, as he sits inside helicopter at a Federal hanger in Mexico City, Feb. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)2025-08-12T20:57:32Z WASHINGTON (AP) Mexico sent 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States Tuesday in the latest major deal with the Trump administration as American authorities ratchet up pressure on criminal networks smuggling drugs across the border. Those handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael Gonzlez Valencia, a leader of Los Cuinis, a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection to the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups. The seal of the Department of Justice is shown in Washington, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) The seal of the Department of Justice is shown in Washington, Aug. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More The transfers are a milestone for the Trump administration, which is made dismantling dangerous drug cartels a key Justice Department priority. Its the second time in months that Mexico has expelled cartel figures accused of narcotics smuggling, murder and other crimes amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs onto American streets. These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country, Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. We are grateful to Mexicos National Security team for their collaboration in this matter. The cartel figures were put on planes to the U.S. after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members sent to the U.S. in February. That transfer was of 29 cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985. This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a statement. These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies. The February transfers came as Mexican officials were trying to head off the Trump administrations threat of imposing tariffs on Mexican imports. Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations.Sheinbaum has shown a willingness to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of Mexicos cartels. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to Mexicos sovereignty, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military.Also included in the group expelled Tuesday was Servando Gmez Martinez, also known as La Tuta, a former school teacher who became one of Mexicos most-wanted drug lords as head of the Knights Templar cartel. He was captured in 2015 and sentenced to 55 years in a Mexican prison in June 2019. Gomez led the quasi-religious criminal group that once exercised absolute control over Michoacan and he liked to appear in interviews and videos. The cartel orchestrated politics, controlled commerce, dictated rules and preached a code of ethics around devotion to God and family, even as it murdered and plundered. The letters CJNG for the groups formal name, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, covers the facade of an abandoned home in El Limoncito, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File) The letters CJNG for the groups formal name, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, covers the facade of an abandoned home in El Limoncito, in the Michoacan state of Mexico, Oct. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Abigael Gonzlez Valencia is the brother-in-law of CJNG leader Nemesio Rubn El Mencho Oseguera Cervantes, a top target of the U.S. government. Abigael Gonzlez Valencia was arrested in February 2015 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and had been fighting extradition to the United States since then. The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to El Menchos arrest or conviction.Alongside his two brothers, Abigael Gonzlez Valencia led Los Cuinis, which financed the the founding and growth of the CJNG, one of the most powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico. CJNG traffics hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States and other countries and is known for extreme violence, murders, torture, and corruption. One of his brothers, Jos Gonzlez Valencia, was sentenced in Washingtons federal court in June to 30 years in a U.S. prison after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. Jose Gonzlez Valencia was arrested in 2017 under the first Trump administration at a beach resort in Brazil while vacationing with his family under a fake name. _____Verza reported from Mexico City ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Richer covers the Justice Department and federal courts. She joined The AP in 2013 and is based in Washington. twitter MARA VERZA Verza has focused on immigration, violence and human rights stories in Mexico and Central America for more than a decade twitter instagram mailto