Top cartel leader known as "The Gardener" hit with U.S. charges

A U.S. national expansive assemblage connected Thursday expanded the charges against the second-in-command of Mexico's Jalisco New Generation Cartel, accusing him of methamphetamine trafficking and conspiracy to launder money.

Mexican cause kingpin Audias Flores Silva was arrested connected April 27 successful the occidental authorities of Nayarit successful an cognition by Mexican Navy peculiar forces based connected accusation provided by U.S. agencies. He was primitively charged with trafficking cocaine and heroin successful an August 2020 indictment.

The seizure of Flores Silva, alias "El Jardinero" oregon "The Gardener," was considered a large stroke to the enactment of the cartel, known by its Spanish initials CJNG. The CJNG determination commandant was captured portion helium was hiding successful a roadside ditch. 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.

He was identified by Mexican authorities arsenic a imaginable successor to person Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," who was killed successful February successful the occidental authorities of Jalisco successful an service operation.

"Jardinero believed helium would presume power of the convulsive overseas violent enactment CJNG pursuing the decease of El Mencho. He was wrong." DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said successful a statement Thursday.

Members of Mexican Special Forces escort Audias Flores, known arsenic "El Jardinero," a apical commandant of the almighty Jalisco New Generation Cartel, successful the occidental authorities of Nayarit, Mexico, successful this handout distributed connected April 27, 2026.  Secretaria de Marina (SEMAR) via Reuters

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.

The CJNG, designated a violent enactment by the U.S. successful February on with 7 different transgression groups, is considered the largest successful Mexico, with a beingness successful 21 of its 32 states. Its operations person besides expanded to respective countries, including the U.S.

Flores Silva, 45, served arsenic Oseguera Cervantes' caput of security, according to Mexican authorities. He aboriginal assumed power of immoderate of the cartel's operations successful the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Mexico and Zacatecas, overseeing cause accumulation and trafficking, arsenic good arsenic the cognition of clandestine laboratories. He is besides linked to substance theft and extortion. The U.S. had offered a $5 cardinal reward for accusation starring to his arrest.

If convicted, helium could look betwixt 10 years and beingness successful prison.

In:

• Drug Cartels
• Mexico
• Cartel
• Methamphetamine