This Tuesday, May 19, Guatemala extradited Audiías Juncos Vásquez, alias “Cachetes,” an alleged drug trafficker wanted by a court in the Middle District of Florida for alleged links to the Sinaloa Cartel, owned by former capo Joaquín “el Chapo” Guzmán.
He Ministry of the Interior reported that the accused was delivered to agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after complying with the corresponding legal processes in Guatemala.
According to investigations, “Cachetes”, 28, is accused of conspiring to manufacture and distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine destined for the US market.
Captured in San Marcos
The Interior Ministry recalled that the alleged drug trafficker was captured on February 26 during an operation carried out by the National Civil Police in San Marcos, a department bordering Mexico.
According to the investigations of the Prosecutor’s OfficeJuncos Vásquez was accused of recruiting Guatemalan boatmen to transport drugs, in addition to participating in other illegal activities linked to drug trafficking.
After completing the legal processes in Guatemala, the extraditable Audias Juncos Vásquez, alias “Cachetes”, was handed over to the US justice system to answer before a court in that country for crimes related to drug trafficking. pic.twitter.com/oP4Tlii7ZV
— MinGob (@mingobguate) May 19, 2026
The authorities added that elite groups of the Penitentiary System and police officers transferred the extraditable to the facilities of the Guatemalan Air Forcewhere he was handed over to US authorities.
Alleged family ties
According to authoritiesa brother of the now extradited man was captured last weekend with a shipment of cocaine on the coasts of the Guatemalan Pacific.
Investigations link “Cachetes” with structures dedicated to the transfer of drugs to the United States, using maritime routes and border territories in Guatemala.
Due to its geographical position, Guatemala is used by international criminal organizations as a bridge to transport drugs from South America to the United States.
In recent years, Guatemalan and US authorities have strengthened joint operations and extradition processes related to structures linked to international drug trafficking.
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