Mexico Seeks Extradition of Drug Cartel Figure Tied to Journalist's Murder

In a pressing move, Mexico's government has requested the extradition of Damaso Lopez Serrano, a key drug cartel figure suspected of orchestrating the murder of prominent journalist Javier Valdez in 2017.

Mexico is intensifying its plea for the extradition of Damaso Lopez Serrano, a senior figure in the Sinaloa Cartel accused of plotting the assassination of journalist Javier Valdez. Valdez, noted for his influential reporting on the drug trade, was brutally murdered in Culiacan, Mexico, in May 2017. Mexican authorities have linked Serrano, who has been detained in the US on drug trafficking charges, to the order for Valdez's killing due to his critical coverage of cartel dynamics.

Alejandro Gertz, the attorney general of Mexico, emphasized during a recent conference that they have apprehended the other individuals involved in Valdez's murder, but Serrano remains at large. He described Serrano as the "mastermind" behind the journalist’s assassination, highlighting past efforts for extradition that were denied by US authorities. They previously categorized him as a "protected witness" offering vital information.

Serrano's relationship with the Sinaloa Cartel is complex; his father was a lieutenant under infamous cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Following Guzman’s extradition, Serrano’s father was involved in a violent power struggle that led to his capture in 2017. Serrano surrendered to US authorities later that year and was seen as a cooperating witness, ultimately receiving parole in 2022. However, he faced re-arrest in December 2023 and will be charged with more fentanyl trafficking offenses.

Valdez's assassination was reportedly a revenge act, following his critical articles that exposed internal conflicts in the Sinaloa Cartel. A week before his murder, he had published opinions labeling Serrano as ineffective and superficial. The climate for journalists in Mexico remains perilous; it ranks as one of the deadliest countries for journalists, with many losing their lives in recent years, particularly in the context of cartel violence.