Los Ninis

Los Ninis
Founding locationCuliacán, Mexico
TerritorySinaloa
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, extortion, torture, kidnapping, murder
Allies Sinaloa Cartel
Los Chapitos
Los Chimales
[]
Gente Nueva
RivalsMexican Armed Forces
Los Rusos
Los Guanos
Beltrán-Leyva Cartel
La Plaza Cartel[1]

Los Ninis are the main armed wing of the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, known as Los Chapitos.[2] Made up of loyal young hit men between the ages of 20 and 35, well-trained in urban combat operations,(Michael Collins)they operate as a security force for the leaders of that faction, as well as to torture and kill anyone who opposed Los Chapitos. They are also given tasks such as monitoring and taking care of drug laboratories, cartel camps and drug trafficking routes.[3][4][5][6]

This armed wing would be under the orders of one individual identified as Néstor Isidro Pérez Salas, (alias "El Nini", "El General", "El 19" or "Chicken Little"), who has training and knowledge in the military field.[7] The group is also made up of other high commands such as Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benitez, (alias "El 27"), coordinator of El Nini's operations, regarding the manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl, and Oscar Noe Medina Gonzáles, (alias "El Panu"), who is in charge of supervising the security of the strategic points of the cartel in Mexico and coordinating all "jefes de plaza" (men who monitor the territories and areas controlled by the organization).

This group is also held responsible for unleashing an internal war between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel to impose the dominance of Los Chapitos. Its main center of operation is located in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa.[8]

  1. ^ ""No se vengan a enredar aquí", la terrible advertencia de sicario de La Chapiza tras ser capturado por La Plaza". Infobae. 8 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Así nacieron "Los Ninis", brazo armado del Cártel de Sinaloa liderado por Ovidio". Publimetro México (in Spanish). 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  3. ^ "What are Los Ninis and their link to the Sinaloa Cartel?". Mexicanist. 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  4. ^ Vanguardia (2022-12-10). "Who are "Los Ninis"?... and what is their relationship with Los Chapitos of the Cartel de Sinaloa". Mazatlán Weekly. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  5. ^ "Quién es el jefe de seguridad de 'Los Chapitos' que EEUU reclamó por matar a informantes y distribuir droga". infobae (in European Spanish). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  6. ^ Jalisco, Redacción UNIÓN (2023-04-27). "Cártel de Sinaloa. 'Los Ninis', el violento miniejército de 'Los Chapitos'". Unión Jalisco (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  7. ^ "¿Quién es "El Nini", jefe de seguridad de "Los Chapitos" que escapó de autoridades?". La Razón (in Spanish). 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  8. ^ Milenio (2023-04-14). "Los Ninis, líderes de escoltas de Los Chapitos, acusados en EU". Head Topics (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-07-16.