Chief of security for "El Chapo's" sons detained in Mexico and awaiting extradition

Officials announced Thursday that a senior assassin for the cartel once commanded by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was caught in Mexico and face extradition to the US.

According to an arrest record, national security officers apprehended "El Nini," Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, at a walled property in Culiacan, Mexico, on Wednesday afternoon.

Last week, President Joe Biden met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in San Francisco and applauded the arrest for bravery and U.S.-Mexico cooperation.

"Both our countries are safer with him behind bars and facing justice for his crimes," said Biden.

U.S. investigators say Pérez is a senior sicario, or assassin, for the infamous Sinaloa Cartel, originally commanded by Guzman, who is serving life in Colorado for his trafficking and bloodshed.

He also heads security for four of Guzman's sons, the "Chapitos.", Ivan Archivaldo, Jesus Alfredo, Joaquin, and Ovidio.

"He and his security forces murdered, tortured and kidnapped rivals, witnesses, and others who opposed the Chapitos," Garland said Thursday.

Three Chapitos were named together. In Chicago, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, a fourth, pled not guilty to a similar case.

All brothers have denied federal criminal charges.

The Justice Department calls the four Sinaloa Cartel “principal leaders”.