Alleged Sinaloa Cartel Fentanyl Producer Charged in Unsealed US Indictment

Ivan Valerio Sainz Salazar, known as 'Mantecas,' accused of manufacturing millions of deadly fentanyl pills for the Chapitos faction of the cartel.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Ivan Valerio Sainz Salazar, an alleged top Sinaloa Cartel fentanyl producer, has been charged in a newly unsealed US federal indictment. Sainz Salazar, also known as 'Mantecas,' is accused of conspiring to manufacture and traffic fentanyl for the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and smuggle it into the United States.

Why it matters

The Sinaloa Cartel remains one of the primary drivers of the deadly fentanyl crisis in the US, with the Chapitos faction overseeing much of the operation. Sainz Salazar's alleged role as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos highlights the cartel's continued efforts to flood American communities with the highly potent synthetic opioid, fueling record overdose deaths nationwide.

The details

According to the indictment, federal prosecutors claim Sainz Salazar served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel from about 2022 through 2025. He is accused of helping manufacture millions of fentanyl pills, arranging drug transactions under armed protection, and operating labs that became central to the group's fentanyl production. Sainz Salazar, a 40-year-old Mexican citizen, has been charged with conspiring to import fentanyl into the US and conspiring to distribute it domestically, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. He is also charged with using and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the alleged drug conspiracy.

  • On January 19, 2026, Mexican authorities arrested Sainz Salazar and several alleged associates in Badiraguato, Sinaloa.
  • The alleged fentanyl production and trafficking activities took place from about 2022 through 2025.

The players

Ivan Valerio Sainz Salazar

Also known as 'Mantecas,' he is an alleged top Sinaloa Cartel fentanyl producer charged in a newly unsealed US federal indictment.

Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán

The former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who is currently serving a life sentence in a US prison.

Joaquín Guzmán López

One of the 'Chapitos,' the sons of 'El Chapo' Guzmán who took over a major faction of the Sinaloa Cartel after their father's conviction.

Ovidio Guzmán López

Another one of the 'Chapitos' who reached a plea deal on trafficking and money-laundering charges.

Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada

A longtime Sinaloa Cartel figure who was arrested alongside Joaquín Guzmán López in 2024.

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What they’re saying

“As alleged, Sainz Salazar served as a major producer of the Sinaloa Cartel's fentanyl shipments bound for the United States. Fentanyl kills, and violent dealers in fentanyl must be taken off our streets. Today's charges target a major producer behind the Chapitos' supply chain and underscore the commitment of the women and men of our Office to holding traffickers at all levels of the production and distribution chain accountable.”

— Jay Clayton, US Attorney (nypost.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow Sainz Salazar to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the Sinaloa Cartel's continued role as a major supplier of deadly fentanyl to the United States, with the Chapitos faction overseeing much of the operation. The arrest and indictment of a key alleged fentanyl producer like Sainz Salazar represents an effort by US and Mexican authorities to disrupt the cartel's supply chain and hold traffickers accountable.