On July 17, Héctor Manuel Avendaño Ojeda, known as "El Meño," was extradited following a request from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Culiacán, Sinaloa. — The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) extradited Héctor Manuel Avendaño Ojeda, “El Meño,” yesterday. He was arrested in 2016 in the capital of Sinaloa.
The criminal leader was head of the “Los Avendaño” faction and served as financial operator for drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS).
“El Meño,” as he was known in criminal circles, was handed over to the Government of the United States, following a request from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, where he is accused of conspiracy and drug-related crimes.
The FGR reported that Héctor Manuel Avendaño Ojeda, along with his brothers Sergio and the late Martín Gaudencio, were part of the “Los Avendaño“ faction, responsible for receiving shipments of cocaine through Colombian intermediaries via vessels that navigated international waters.
“Once the drugs were received, they were transferred to another member of the organization for transport to various states in Mexico and the United States,” it stated.
After nine years since his arrest, the Government of Mexico granted the extradition of Héctor Manuel Avendaño Ojeda “El Meño” to the United States.
He was handed over to designated agents for his transfer at Mexico City’s International Airport.
Sanctions Against “Los Avendaño”
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a sanction in October 2011 against Héctor Manuel Avendaño Ojeda “El Meño,” as well as his brothers Sergio and Martín Gaudencio “El Caguamo,” and companies owned by them in Mexico.
According to the U.S. Government, Martín Gaudencio Avendaño Ojeda “El Caguamo,” the elder brother of “El Meño,” was in charge of controlling a money laundering and drug distribution network in Culiacán, Sinaloa.
He also owned Autos Mini in Ensenada, Baja California and Autódromo Culiacán in Sinaloa, as well as yards, plots, and ranches in Ciudad Constitución, Baja California Sur, registered in the names of family members residing in the municipality of Comondú.
In that city, the U.S. Government has identified two relatives: Santos Arcelia Avendaño Ojeda, sister of “El Meño,” and his brother-in-law, Raúl Madrid Peña “El Rauli.”
“El Rauli,” as he is known in that municipality, was director of acquisitions and procurement of the 18th Municipal Government of Comondú.
He is currently a political operator for La Paz Mayor Milena Paola Quiroga Romero in Comondú, who is running for governor of Baja California Sur.
According to the U.S. Government, the “Los Avendaño” faction maintains a special forces-style criminal cell, responsible for acts of violence associated with “La Mayiza.”
