U.S. captures alleged drug kingpin with $10 million bounty on his head

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U.S. authorities person detained a suspected Guatemalan cause kingpin with a $10 cardinal bounty connected his head, the Central American nation's U.S. Embassy announced.

Eugenio Molina-Lopez is accused of heading up a pack called Los Huistas, which allegedly trafficked U.S.-bound cocaine from South America to Mexican cartels.

He was arrested successful San Diego, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California said successful a statement, which the embassy successful Guatemala City shared connected X.

The connection did not specify erstwhile the apprehension took place.

.@TheJusticeDept anunció el arresto de “Don Darío” Molina-López, líder de la organización transgression transnacional Los Huistas. Gracias al Programa de Recompensas del @StateDept, y con la ayuda del público, más de 75 criminales transnacionales y narcotraficantes han sido llevados… pic.twitter.com/vzHGbuSCsR

— US Embassy Guatemala (@usembassyguate) April 28, 2026

The 61-year-old known arsenic "Don Dario" pleaded not blameworthy during a national tribunal quality connected Friday.

Molina-Lopez is charged with conspiracy to import and administer cocaine, which carries a imaginable beingness sentence.

"Once again, the last section for a antheral alleged to beryllium 1 of the world's astir notorious and prolific cocaine traffickers is present successful the Southern District of California," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said.

Los Huistas run successful northwestern Guatemala adjacent the borderline with Mexico, according to the embassy.

In March 2022, the United States imposed sanctions against Los Huistas, describing it as the "dominant transgression operation successful the Guatemalan section of Huehuetenango (along the borderline of Guatemala and Mexico)."

In March 2025, the "top leader" of Los Huistas and 1 of Washington's apical 100 most-wanted fugitives, Aler Baldomero Samayoa -- alias "Chicharra" (Cicada) -- was captured successful Mexico and deported to Guatemala pursuing associated efforts betwixt the 2 countries and the U.S., officials said astatine the time.

According to the U.S. Treasury, Los Huistas smuggles cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin from its basal successful bluish Guatemala to the U.S. utilizing Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

International cartels, with assistance from section cause traffickers, postulation drugs and launder wealth successful Guatemala and different Central American countries, fueling determination violence.

Ninety percent of the cocaine that reaches the U.S. passes done Central America and Mexico successful trucks, aircraft, boats and submarines, according to U.S. officials.

The apprehension was announced conscionable 1 time aft a apical Jalisco cartel person with a $5 cardinal U.S. bounty connected his caput was captured portion hiding successful ditch in Mexico.

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