Mexico captures cartel leader with $5 million U.S. bounty on his head

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The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Mexico's astir almighty transgression enterprise, suffered different stroke Monday erstwhile the Mexican subject captured 1 of its apical leaders successful the northwest of the country, 2 months aft the cartel's person was killed.

Audias Flores Silva, besides known arsenic "El Jardinero," oregon The Gardener, was seen arsenic a imaginable successor to the killed person and the United States had a $5 cardinal reward retired for accusation starring to his arrest.

The CJNG determination commandant was captured portion helium was hiding successful a roadside ditch adjacent the assemblage of El Mirador successful the authorities of Nayarit, Mexican officials said Monday. No 1 was killed oregon injured during his arrest, according to Mexico's government.

Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch posted video connected societal media appearing to amusement a antheral emerging from a spread successful the crushed arsenic helium is being taken into custody.

Harfuch said that the captured antheral is "sought by U.S. authorities with the extremity of extradition."

The Mexican subject said reconnaissance aircraft, six helicopters, 4 planes and much than 100 troops connected the crushed were progressive successful the operation.

Top Jalisco cartel person 'El Jardinero' detained successful Mexico, curate says

Flores Silva was seen arsenic a imaginable successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, oregon "El Mencho," who was killed successful a melodramatic subject cognition successful February. The sidesplitting of "El Mencho" led to a surge of cartel violence with a question of attacks connected businesses by cartel gunmen, conveyance burnings and roadworthy blockades that killed much than 70 people, including 25 National Guard members.

Despite the violence, Oseguera Cervantes' sidesplitting was seen arsenic a triumph for Mexico's authorities astatine a clip erstwhile Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is cracking down connected cartels with a heavier manus than her predecessors successful an effort to offset threats of involution by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Last year, Mr. Trump designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and 5 different Mexican cartels arsenic overseas violent organizations.

Flores Silva's seizure marked different stroke to a transgression endeavor that has rapidly go 1 of the astir almighty successful the hemisphere. According to Mexican information officials, helium was the caput of information for Oseguera Cervantes, and helped pb the cartel's cause accumulation and trafficking operations successful the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Mexico State, and Zacatecas.

Local quality organizations successful Nayarit reported a fig of cars and businesses were burned pursuing his arrest.

The seizure was praised by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson, who said successful a post connected X that Flores Silva's apprehension marks an "important step" successful combating those who nett from fentanyl trafficking.

"Actions similar this fortify information and assistance dismantle transgression networks that endanger our communities. Together, we execute results that marque our nations safer," helium added.

At a young age, Flores Silva was arrested successful the U.S., wherever helium served a five-year condemnation for cause trafficking earlier returning to Mexico aft his release. In 2016, helium was arrested by Mexican authorities for his alleged information successful an ambush against constabulary successful Jalisco and was released 3 years later.

Since 2021, the U.S. has requested Flores Silva's extradition to look charges of cause conspiracy and firearms possession.

For Mexican information expert David Saucedo, the apprehension of Flores Silva represents a "significant blow" to the CJNG leadership, which was inactive successful the process of reorganizing aft the decease of its person and laminitis connected Feb. 22.

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Saucedo told The Associated Press, however, that transgression groups "can rapidly reinvent themselves contempt the apprehension of their leaders," and that adjacent erstwhile they endure large blows, "they tin continue" their transgression activities.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has acknowledged CJNG's beingness successful 21 of Mexico's 32 states, surpassing the Sinaloa Cartel, which is estimated to run successful 19 states.

Some analysts judge the CJNG's beingness extends to 25 states, with a stronghold successful Jalisco. The cartel's operations person besides dispersed to astir 100 countries, including the United States.

Capture of transgression brag prompts blockades adjacent U.S. border

Earlier, the authorities of northeastern Tamaulipas authorities reported the apprehension of Alexander "N," subordinate of a transgression pack that acts adjacent the U.S.-Mexico border.

His seizure provoked astatine slightest 8 road blockades by transgression groups connected the highways surrounding the borderline metropolis of Reynosa.

The spokesperson of Tamaulipas information forces said the authorities reestablished control, and that nary 1 was wounded during the attacks.

Mexican quality outlets identified the transgression arsenic Alexander Benavides Flores, oregon "R9," the caput of Los Metros.

The Metros are 1 of the factions of the Gulf Cartel, weakened implicit the people of the past decennary pursuing the seizure of their leaders.

The metropolis of Reynosa has 690,000 inhabitants and sits crossed the stream from McAllen, Texas.

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.

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