Mauro Alberto Núñez Ojeda, known as “El Jando,” was identified by the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) in June 2026 as the pilot who flew cartel leaders Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquín Guzmán López from Culiacán to New Mexico in July 2024. He was detained in February 2025, extradited to the United States in August 2025, and pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The plea agreement calls for a minimum ten‑year sentence, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million and supervised release. The FBI confirmed that Núñez Ojeda is cooperating with U.S. authorities, assisting in the identification and forfeiture of assets.
Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said any possible misconduct by former attorney‑general Alejandro Gertz Manero in the hand‑over of the pilot should be investigated by the FGR, stating “Tiene que revisarlo la Fiscalía.” The case highlights a six‑month gap in the pilot’s identification, prompting questions about procedural lapses within the Mexican security apparatus. Together, the developments underscore ongoing U.S.–Mexico cooperation in high‑profile drug‑trafficking investigations and internal scrutiny of Mexico’s anti‑organized‑crime efforts.