Edgar Herrera Pardo, also known as Caiman, has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. The sentencing took place in San Diego for his role in trafficking methamphetamine and heroin into the United States. Herrera Pardo was identified as a violent enforcer for the cartel group Los Cabos, which operated under the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in Baja California.
Herrera Pardo was charged on April 10, 2019, with leading Los Cabos to control drug trafficking routes through Tijuana. His activities included ordering violent acts against law enforcement and rivals. He admitted to several instances of orchestrating violence, including ordering the murder of a Tijuana police officer and plotting against rival cartel members.
The CJNG has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by an executive order from former President Trump and further recognized by the Secretary of State in February 2025. This designation highlights the organization’s violent actions across the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon stated, “My Day One pledge in creating our office’s Narcoterrorism Unit was to make this the District where cartel members will receive the full measure of justice.” He emphasized that Herrera Pardo’s actions were part of a larger strategy by CJNG to instill terror and suppress opposition.
DEA Special Agent Brian Clark commented on the sentencing: “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: those who use violence and fear to advance the deadly operations of drug cartels will be held accountable.” He noted Herrera Pardo’s role as an enforcer within CJNG’s operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin is prosecuting this case with assistance from various agencies including Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and others involved in Operation Take Back America. This operation aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle transnational criminal organizations like CJNG.
This case falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative aimed at disrupting significant drug traffickers through coordinated multi-agency efforts.
