U.S.-Mexico cooperation on security matters has netted another criminal destined for extradition, sending a clear message: “Whatever the crime, criminals have nowhere to hide.”
Jalisco police officers captured a man identified as Antoni Covarrubias in Puerto Vallarta who was considered a priority target by U.S. authorities. Covarrubias, 41, is wanted on charges of second-degree murder in California.
U.S.-Mexico security coordination continues to deliver results. Through close cooperation between 🇺🇸 & 🇲🇽 authorities, Jalisco Police arrested a fugitive wanted in the United States for murder and other serious crimes. The cooperation advanced by @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and… pic.twitter.com/xVoKAlvceP
— Embajador Ronald Johnson (@USAmbMex) August 17, 2026
In a social media post, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson praised the cooperative effort of Mexican authorities, highlighting the positive results derived from bilateral security coordination.
Illustrating these recent successes, Johnson announced a few hours later that U.S. authorities had “turned over six more fugitives wanted in Mexico for serious crimes, including murder and firearms offenses, with one linked to a narco-terrorist organization.”
The operation in Puerto Vallarta was carried out in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service after Jalisco authorities received information about the fugitive’s whereabouts in the heart of the popular tourist resort.
With the help of drones and the C2 Mobile Cybertruck, state police and a tactical unit were deployed to the area. According to police reports, Covarrubias was apprehended after a brief chase without incident.
A search of the suspect turned up quantities of marijuana and crystal meth, but charges of drug possession were set aside once it was confirmed that the man was the target sought by U.S. authorities.
State officials contacted the U.S. Marshals Service to begin procedures to hand Covarrubias over for extradition.
On Monday, Ambassador Johnson posted a photograph of the detainee, handcuffed and guarded by four Jalisco police officers, and declared “criminals have nowhere to hide.” The apprehension of Covarrubias is reportedly the ninth arrest of a high-profile U.S. target in the state of Jalisco in recent weeks.
In recent days, U.S. authorities turned over six more fugitives wanted in Mexico for serious crimes, including murder and firearms offenses, with one linked to a narco-terrorist organization. As the cooperation advanced by @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and President @ClaudiaShein… pic.twitter.com/SDhwqeAtIv
— Embajador Ronald Johnson (@USAmbMex) August 17, 2026
This spate of captures and extraditions includes the return of three fugitives to Mexico over the weekend. The three suspects — including one who is allegedly a member of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel — were wanted by Mexican authorities on a variety of criminal charges, including murder.
On Sunday, Johnson said the success demonstrates that effective security collaboration sends a clear message to criminals: “You will be caught and you will be held accountable.”
Also last week, the U.S. Marshals Service announced that Mexican authorities had deported one of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted fugitives who was wanted on multiple state and federal charges.
At the same time, Mexican and U.S. authorities conducted a rapid-response binational security exercise along a highly visible stretch of El Paso-Cd. Juárez border area.
With reports from La Jornada, LatinUS, Noticias Puerto Vallarta and Debate
