MEXICO CITY, Dec 1, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A man wanted by the US on accusations of trafficking large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine was killed Sunday by Mexican military personnel during an anti-drug operation, officials said.

Pedro Inzunza Coronel, alias "Pichon," died during the operation in the northwestern state of Sinaloa.

Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico's security secretary, confirmed Coronel's death on social media.

"In an operation led by the Secretariat of the Navy... two operators of this criminal cell were detained and upon attacking the naval personnel, Pedro 'N' Pichon lost his life," Harfuch said.

In May, the US Department of Justice charged Coronel, as well as his father, Pedro Inzunza Noriega, with narco-terrorism, drug trafficking and money laundering as leaders from a faction of a now-defunct cartel known as the Beltran Leyva Organization.

US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a post on X that Inzunza was accused of multiple crimes, including "murders, kidnappings, torture, and violent debt collection for drug trafficking."

Since returning to power in January, US President Donald Trump has demanded Mexico increase its efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, threatening tariffs on Mexican exports if more is not done.