A man sought by U.S. authorities for his alleged involvement in the trafficking of significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine was killed during an anti-drug operation conducted by Mexican military personnel. The operation took place on Sunday in Sinaloa, a northwestern state known for its connection to drug cartels.
Pedro Inzunza Coronel, who was known by the alias “Pichon,” was confirmed dead by Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s security secretary. He shared the news via social media, stating that the operation was executed by the Secretariat of the Navy. During the engagement, two members of Coronel’s criminal organization were apprehended. Harfuch reported that Coronel lost his life after his group attacked the naval personnel.
In May, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Coronel alongside his father, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, with multiple serious offenses, including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering. The two were identified as leaders of a faction associated with the now-defunct Beltran Leyva Organization.
The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, highlighted the extensive criminal record attributed to Coronel. In his remarks, he noted that Coronel faced multiple charges, encompassing serious crimes such as murders, kidnappings, torture, and violent debt collection linked to drug trafficking initiatives.
The operation comes amid heightened scrutiny on Mexico’s handling of drug trafficking issues. Since returning to office, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Mexican authorities to bolster their efforts against drug cartels, with threats of imposing tariffs on Mexican exports if progress is not observed in combating these illicit activities.
