"El Bótox," Leader of Los Blancos de Troya, Arrested

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

The arrest of "El Botox," leader of Los Blancos de Troya, has been reported in a joint operation in Michoacán. He was considered a priority target by state and federal authorities.

Cesar Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano, “El Botox,” leader of the Los Blancos de Troya cartel and considered a priority target by authorities, was arrested this Thursday in a joint operation in Michoacán.

The criminal leader is charged with extortion against lemon producers and his probable responsibility in the murders of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez and Hipólito Mora Chávez.

The capture was confirmed by the head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, who reported that the arrest was achieved “in a joint operation by @Defensamx1 @SEMAR_mx @SSPCMexico @FiscaliaMich and authorities of the state of Michoacán,” and specified that it is “Carlos (sic) Alejandro N ‘Botox’, a priority target and generator of violence in Michoacán.  The main extortionist of lemon growers and responsible for several homicides.” He added that “more information will follow…”

For his part, the governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, highlighted that the arrest was the result of intelligence work and coordination between federal and state agencies.

“Thanks to intelligence work and the excellent coordination between the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection of the Government of Mexico, SEDENA, SEMAR, the State Attorney General's Office and the Undersecretariat of Specialized Investigation (SIE) of the Michoacán Public Security Secretariat, we achieved the arrest of Carlos (sic) Alejandro ‘N’, alias ‘Botox’, a priority target and generator of violence in our state,” he wrote.

The state governor emphasized that with this apprehension “we are dealing a decisive blow against extortion of our lemon producers and making progress in the fight against impunity,” and acknowledged the participating agencies. Similarly, the Attorney General of Michoacán, Carlos Torres Piña, reported that the arrest was made possible thanks to coordinated efforts between the armed forces, security agencies, and prosecutors' offices.

“Thanks to the coordinated and strategic work between the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, the State Public Security Secretariat, the State Attorney General's Office, and the Attorney General's Office of the Republic, we achieved the capture of a criminal target, identified as a generator of violence in the Apatzingán region,” he stated.

Torres Piña affirmed that this result reflects the importance of inter-institutional cooperation. “This result demonstrates that inter-institutional coordination and the exchange of information strengthen our efforts to continue on the path of building peace,” he emphasized.

Cesar Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano is identified by federal and state authorities as one of the main criminal operators in the Tierra Caliente region, particularly in Apatzingán, where he allegedly led extortion activities against agricultural producers, especially in the lime sector, one of the most affected by protection rackets in recent years.

In addition to extortion, “El Bótox” is being investigated for his probable involvement in the murders of Bernardo Bravo Manriquez and Hipólito Mora Chávez, the latter a former self-defense leader and public figure in the fight against criminal groups in Michoacán.  These murders generated a strong social and political impact in the state.

It is expected that in the coming hours, information will be released regarding his legal status, his transfer to a judge, and the formal charges he will face.

The arrest of “El Bótox” is part of a series of recent operations against high-priority targets in Michoacán, in a context of reinforced federal presence and social pressure to curb the violence and extortion affecting producing communities in the region.

Sources:  Contramuro,  Borderland Beat Archives