Mexican Authorities Seize Narco Labs Linked to “El Jardinero”

On May 17, 2026, Mexican security forces raided five drug laboratories allegedly linked to Audias Flores Silva, a.k.a. “El Jardinero,” one of the top lieutenants of deceased cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.”

The seizures followed El Jardinero’s arrest on April 27, 2026, in Nayarit. Shortly afterward, a federal judge granted an initial legal suspension blocking his immediate extradition to the United States. The ruling was issued on April 30, 2026, by Zucena Lazalde Íñiguez, Second District Judge in Criminal Matters for the State of Mexico.

According to official reports, the Secretaría de Marina (SEMAR), the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC), and the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) carried out a coordinated multi-state operation targeting clandestine synthetic drug laboratories in the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, and Jalisco.

Largest Seizures in Sinaloa

The largest seizures were reported in the municipalities of Corralejo and Corral Viejo, Sinaloa, where authorities dismantled three clandestine drug laboratories linked to the organization.

At the first site, Mexican forces seized one ton of chemical precursors, including ammonium chloride and tartaric acid, along with industrial containers and enamel-coated cooking pots commonly used in synthetic drug production.

At the second laboratory, authorities seized 500 liters of acetic acid, 1,500 kilograms of tartaric acid, and 75 kilograms of dual-use chemical substances.

At the third laboratory, security forces seized 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine—400 kilograms in the drying process and 600 kilograms being cooked—along with 100 liters of methanol, 500 kilograms of caustic soda, and 440 kilograms of tartaric acid.

Nayarit and Jalisco Operations

In Capomo, Nayarit, Mexican marines seized 780 kilograms of solid methamphetamine and 300 liters in liquid form from a large synthetic drug laboratory.

In Saucillo, Jalisco, authorities seized another synthetic drug laboratory allegedly linked to the same organization. The site contained 600 kilograms of finished product, 750 liters of chemical precursors, and 425 kilograms of solid chemical substances, in addition to tools and equipment used in synthetic drug production.

Combined, the seizures reportedly generated an estimated financial blow of more than 650 million pesos to the criminal organization.

 

What Could Happen Next?

The seizures occurred during a particularly difficult moment for the CJNG. El Jardinero’s extradition process was temporarily halted by the Mexican judiciary shortly after the formal indictments issued against Governor-on-leave Rubén Rocha Moya. At the same time, tensions with the United States increased following the Mexican government’s refusal to extradite him.

Although the operation represents a major blow to the faction allegedly controlled by El Jardinero, estimates indicate that Mexico’s methamphetamine market exceeds 400 tons annually. This suggests that, while the seizures are operationally significant, the primary financial impact would mainly affect El Jardinero’s faction rather than the broader CJNG structure.

It is also notable that no individuals were arrested during any of the raids. This may indicate that the cartel had prior warning of the operations. Such circumstances may reflect an internal CJNG power struggle, potentially linked to Juan Carlos Valencia González (“El 03”), widely viewed as one of El Mencho’s principal successors, as part of an effort to dismantle the remaining influence of El Jardinero’s faction and consolidate control over the cartel.

 

Sources: Quadratin, Politico MX, Insightcrime