Anastacio Soto Vega (Captured)

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Sinaloa Cartel is largely responsible for the massive influx of fentanyl into the U.S. over the past several years.

One faction of the Sinaloa Cartel trafficking fentanyl is led by Leobardo Garcia Corrales, a/k/a “Leo.” Anastacio Soto Vega is a weapons expert for the Cartel who reports directly to the Garcia Corrales brothers and personally traveled to Vienna, Austria, in December 2022 to inspect an array of military-grade weapons on behalf of the Garcia Corrales brothers in furtherance of a weapons-for-fentanyl discussed in an earlier meeting in Mexico.

On March 18, 2023, Soto Vega was arrested in Athens, Greece, on a provisional arrest warrant based on charges in a criminal complaint which were later included in an indictment. He remains in custody pending extradition to the U.S..

On April 4, 2023, a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York returned an indictment against Anastacio Soto Vega and others charging them with Fentanyl Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns & Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns & Destructive Devices.

The U.S. Department of State is offering a REWARD OF UP TO $1 MILLION for information leading to the conviction of Anastacio Soto Vega.

If you have information, please contact the DEA via email at ChapitosTips@dea.gov. If you are located outside of the U.S., you may also visit the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If in the U.S., you can contact the local DEA office in your city.

ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.

state.gov