Manuel Ignacio de Jesús Velasco50, agreed on June 3 to be extradited to the United States, where he is required by a federal court in the Eastern District of Texas for crimes related to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. The decision was made during a hearing held before the Third Court of Criminal Sentencing, which expedites the process for its delivery to the US authorities.
Velasco was captured on May 5 in MalacatánSan Marcos, during an operation carried out by agents of the General Subdirectorate of Anti-Narcotics Information Analysis (SGAIA) of the National Civil Police (PNC), in coordination with the Public Ministry (MP). According to the investigations, the requested person allegedly joined an organization dedicated to international drug trafficking which operated in South America, Central America and North America.
The US authorities point out that the criminal structure would have been active between 2011 and April 2025, a period during which it allegedly coordinated the transfer of large shipments of cocaine with final destination in the United States. According to the accusation, the members of the organization participated in activities related to the transportation, logistics and distribution of drugs through different countries in the region.
Another extraditable captured for drug trafficking
In an anti-drug operation, the #SGAIA In Malacatán, San Marcos captured Manuel Ignacio de Jesús Velasco Gómez, 50 years old, alias “Nacho”, with an extradition order to the United States, for drug trafficking issues. pic.twitter.com/Rdt5vSTUDU
— PNC of Guatemala (@PNCdeGuatemala) May 5, 2026
Investigation links him to international drug trafficking network
The extradition request was presented by the Eastern District Court of Texas, which accuses him of participating in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine in quantities greater than five kilograms.
According to the investigations, the criminal structure to which he allegedly belonged used routes in several countries to move drug shipments to United States territory. Authorities maintain that the organization maintained operations for more than a decade.
The case is part of the joint efforts between Guatemala and the United States to combat transnational organizations linked to the drug traffic and other crimes related to organized crime.
Foreign Ministry will coordinate the delivery process
After accepting the extradition, the procedure enters an administrative phase. It will be up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the US authorities the date and conditions for the delivery of the requested item.
Voluntary acceptance prevents the extradition judicial process from continuing and allows the procedures for his transfer to the United States to be accelerated, where he must face the charges presented by the federal justice system.
The Guatemalan authorities have indicated that during 2025, international cooperation on extraditions has increased, mainly in cases related to structures dedicated to drug trafficking and international drug trafficking.
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