The request comes in the wake of renewed efforts to hold accountable those responsible for journalist violence amid an ongoing struggle against rampant drug cartel influence in the region.
**Mexico Seeks Extradition of Suspected Mastermind Behind Journalist's Murder**
**Mexico Seeks Extradition of Suspected Mastermind Behind Journalist's Murder**
Mexico's government urges the US to extradite a cartel leader linked to the 2017 assassination of journalist Javier Valdez, revealing a complex web of crime and corruption.
Mexico's government has formally requested the extradition of a high-ranking member of the Sinaloa drug cartel, Damaso Lopez Serrano, believed to be the orchestrator of journalist Javier Valdez’s murder in 2017. Valdez, an acclaimed reporter celebrated for his extensive coverage of drug-related issues, was shot dead in Culiacan, Mexico, while investigating a violent struggle for power within the Sinaloa cartel.
Mexican officials allege that Serrano, commonly referred to as "Mini Lic," ordered the assassination due to his discontent with Valdez’s reporting. Alejandro Gertz, the Mexican attorney general, emphasized at a recent news conference that they have successfully imprisoned individuals directly involved in the murder but aim to bring Serrano to justice as the alleged mastermind.
Despite repeated extradition requests from Mexico, US authorities had previously classified Serrano as a "protected witness," claiming he provided critical information regarding drug trafficking operations. Serrano’s father, Damaso Lopez Nunez, held significant influence within the Sinaloa cartel and was involved in a power struggle following the arrest of notorious cartel leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
In December 2017, Serrano surrendered to US authorities and cooperated with them, subsequently serving time for drug trafficking. He was released on parole in 2022 but was re-arrested on Friday for further charges related to fentanyl trafficking.
Valdez's murder underscores the dangers faced by journalists in Mexico, a country notorious for violence against media professionals. According to Reporters Without Borders, over 150 journalists have been killed since 1994, with 15 losing their lives in 2022 alone. The recent violence against journalists, including two murders in October, highlights the urgent need for measures to protect press freedom in Mexico amid ongoing cartel warfare.
