Key Cartel Member with $1 Million US Bounty Killed in Mexico, Officials Confirm

Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, a top figure in the notorious criminal group “Los Chapitos,” was killed during a law enforcement operation in Sinaloa, Mexico, authorities confirmed Saturday.

Known by his nickname “El Perris,” Figueroa Benítez was targeted in a raid in Navolato, a town just 32 kilometers (19 miles) from Culiacán, the state capital. The operation was part of an effort to capture him, said Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had placed a $1 million bounty on Figueroa Benítez’s head, listing him as wanted for serious federal crimes. These included conspiracy to import and traffic fentanyl, possession of machine guns and explosives, and money laundering conspiracy.

The region remains a hotspot for cartel violence. Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa, made headlines in 2019 during the “Culiacanazo” incident. This dramatic event saw violent clashes after the temporary arrest of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of infamous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Mexican authorities later released Ovidio, citing a need to avoid further bloodshed.

Ovidio Guzmán was extradited to the U.S. in 2023, where he initially pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges. However, court documents reviewed by CNN suggest he may soon change that plea.

In early May, sources told CNN that several of Ovidio’s relatives crossed into the United States via the San Ysidro border crossing. This movement was reportedly part of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. CNN has reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Justice for comment, but their current status and whether they are in any witness protection program remain unknown.