Mexican security forces killed Sinaloa Cartel leader Jorge Humberto Figueroa, who had a $1 million reward on his head, dealing a significant blow to one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
At a Glance
- Jorge Humberto Figueroa, known as “El Perris,” was killed in a clash with Mexican army troops
- The U.S. DEA had offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture
- Figueroa was aligned with the sons of “El Chapo” Guzman in an internal cartel conflict that has claimed 1,200 lives
- He was a key figure in a 2019 clash where cartel members fought to free El Chapo’s son, Ovidio Guzman
- The operation was part of Mexico’s strategy to build peace in Sinaloa, according to officials
High-Value Target Eliminated
Jorge Humberto Figueroa, known in cartel circles as “El Perris,” was killed during a confrontation with Mexican army troops in a significant development in the ongoing war against drug trafficking organizations. Figueroa was a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa cartel faction led by the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, known as the Chapitos. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had placed a $1 million bounty on Figueroa for his extensive involvement in fentanyl trafficking and money laundering operations that have fueled the deadly opioid crisis affecting American communities.
Mexican authorities identified Figueroa as a key orchestrator of attacks against security forces and linked him to numerous homicides and kidnappings. His elimination represents a rare victory in Mexico’s struggle against powerful criminal organizations that have maintained control over vast territories and corrupted government institutions at various levels. Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of state, confirmed that the operation to neutralize “El Perris” was part of a broader strategy to establish peace in the violence-plagued state of Sinaloa.
Internal Cartel Conflict
Figueroa’s death occurs against the backdrop of a violent internal war within the Sinaloa cartel that has resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths since September. This bloody power struggle pits the Chapitos faction, with which Figueroa was aligned, against a rival group led by the heirs of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, another co-founder of the cartel. The conflict demonstrates the inherent instability of these criminal organizations, where leadership changes often trigger violent succession battles.
The Chapitos have gained notoriety for their extreme brutality. According to a 2023 U.S. Justice Department indictment, this faction has employed horrific torture methods against rivals, including feeding victims to tigers. These savage tactics highlight the ruthlessness with which the cartel operates to maintain control over lucrative drug trafficking routes into the United States. With Figueroa’s elimination, security experts anticipate possible shifts in the balance of power within the organization, which could lead to either increased violence or temporary disruption of operations.
The Culiacan Confrontation Connection
Figueroa gained particular notoriety for his role in the chaotic 2019 confrontation in Culiacan, where Sinaloa cartel gunmen effectively besieged the city to secure the release of Ovidio Guzman, one of El Chapo’s sons. The Mexican government, under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, initially ordered Guzman’s release to prevent further bloodshed in what became known as the “Culiacanazo” – a humiliating defeat for Mexican authorities that demonstrated the cartel’s firepower and organizational capabilities.
This tactical retreat by the government proved temporary, as Ovidio Guzman was eventually re-arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the United States, where his father serves a life sentence in Colorado’s supermax prison. In a controversial development, a deal between Ovidio Guzman and the Trump administration reportedly allowed 17 family members of cartel leaders, including El Chapo’s ex-wife and daughter, to enter the United States. This arrangement has raised questions about the complex relationships between U.S. law enforcement, judicial authorities, and high-value cartel targets.
Border Security Implications
The elimination of a major cartel figure like Figueroa highlights the ongoing security challenges along the U.S.-Mexico border. As a key player in fentanyl trafficking operations, Figueroa contributed to the flow of deadly synthetic opioids into American communities, where they have claimed tens of thousands of lives. His removal may temporarily disrupt these operations, but the Sinaloa cartel’s vast network and resources typically allow it to quickly adapt to leadership losses.
For American border states and communities, the continued violence within Mexican cartels represents a persistent security concern. While Mexican authorities have achieved this tactical victory against the Sinaloa organization, the deeply entrenched nature of these criminal enterprises suggests that comprehensive solutions will require sustained cooperation between U.S. and Mexican security forces, alongside addressing root causes such as corruption, poverty, and drug demand. The death of “El Perris” represents one battle won in what remains a long and difficult war against powerful transnational criminal organizations.
