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Gerardo Merida Sanchez leaves Brooklyn federal prison as US judicial process for narcotics ties remains open

Gerardo Merida Sanchez, the former Secretary of Public Security of Sinaloa, is no longer in the custody of the US Federal Bureau of Prisons. Records indicate that the retired 66-year-old general left the Metropolitan Detention Center of Brooklyn on August 11. Merida Sanchez surrendered to US authorities in Arizona on May 11, 2026, after entering the United States from Mexico. He was subsequently transferred to New York to face charges of conspiracy to import narcotics, possession of firearms, and conspiracy to possess destructive devices. The US Department of Justice accuses him of providing protection and information to the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel in exchange for monthly payments. While Merida Sanchez declared himself not guilty during his initial appearance, the federal case remains open. The August 4 hearing was postponed indefinitely, and his current status—whether he is awaiting a new hearing, undergoing a transfer, or negotiating a settlement—rem not yet publicly confirmed.

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