In a significant blow to one of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations, Edgar Herrera Pardo, also known as “Caiman,” has been sentenced to 28 years in federal prison in San Diego. Pardo was a known enforcer for the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), operating out of Tijuana, Mexico. He was responsible for leading a violent faction called Los Cabos, which used extreme brutality to tighten the cartel’s grip on drug smuggling routes across the U.S.-Mexico border.
CJNG, recently labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. under Executive Order 14157, has long been associated with widespread violence and drug trafficking. Pardo’s sentencing follows a detailed investigation that tied him to numerous acts of violence, including murder, kidnapping, and drug smuggling, as part of the cartel’s operations.
Caiman’s Chilling Crimes
Caiman earned his fearsome reputation through violence. He wasn’t just part of the cartel—he was one of its enforcers, commanding hit squads to silence rivals and threaten anyone who challenged CJNG’s authority. According to evidence presented in court, Pardo gave direct orders that led to multiple killings.
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On September 9, 2018, he told an associate to kill a police officer in Tijuana and even provided the weapon, an AR-15 rifle. Just weeks later, he directed others to capture suspected traitors and rivals of the cartel. On multiple occasions in November 2018, intercepted messages revealed that Pardo planned kidnappings and murders, including targeting former CJNG members who had joined rival groups.
One group chat uncovered by investigators showed Pardo and his inner circle discussing more than 100 killings. These messages gave prosecutors a rare inside look into the inner workings of a cartel operation designed to spread fear and keep control over drug routes.
National Crackdown and Sentencing
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized that Caiman’s sentencing is a direct result of efforts by the newly formed Narcoterrorism Unit, which targets violent cartel members. “This cartel enforcer used fear to maintain power and keep the drug flow going,” Gordon said. “With this sentence, we’re delivering justice and sending a strong message to anyone else involved in this kind of crime.”
Brian Clark, Special Agent in Charge at the DEA, stated that Pardo was more than a trafficker—he was an instrument of terror. Clark highlighted how Pardo’s actions fueled both violence and drug addiction in U.S. communities.
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The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Martin and supported by multiple federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, and the Department of Justice’s international and enforcement units. The arrest and extradition of Pardo involved close coordination with the DOJ’s Office of International Affairs.
The prosecution of Caiman falls under “Operation Take Back America,” an ongoing federal initiative aimed at destroying the networks of drug cartels and transnational crime syndicates. It brings together the full force of federal law enforcement through programs like the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
