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Major Drug Lord 'Sagitario' Arrested in Culiacán Linked to Fentanyl Trafficking

KVIA•Thursday, January 1, 2026 at 10:06 PM•CNN Newsource

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Pedro Insunza Noriega, known as 'Sagitario,' was arrested in Culiacán, Sinaloa, during a coordinated operation by Mexican authorities. The 62-year-old is accused by U.S. officials of leading the Beltrán Leyva Organization, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, which is responsible for significant fentanyl production and trafficking. Insunza Noriega faces serious charges including narcoterrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering, with the U.S. Department of Justice highlighting his role in sending massive quantities of drugs to the U.S. His arrest follows a significant operation in December 2024, where authorities seized 1,500 kilograms of fentanyl linked to him and his son, who was killed in a prior operation. This arrest underscores the ongoing battle against drug-related violence and trafficking impacting both Mexico and the United States.

Key Details: • Insunza Noriega was arrested on Wednesday in Culiacán, Sinaloa. • He faces charges of narcoterrorism and drug trafficking in the U.S. • The arrest is part of a larger crackdown on the Beltrán Leyva Organization. • 1,500 kilograms of fentanyl were seized in a December 2024 operation linked to him.

arrest cartel drug-trafficking fentanyl narcoterrorism

People & Organizations

Secretaría de MarinaFiscalía General de la RepúblicaPedro Insunza NoriegaPedro Insunza CoronelCuliacánSinaloaBeltrán Leyva OrganizationCártel de SinaloaSecretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana

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