By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
In Guadalupe, Nuevo León, authorities detained four men allegedly linked to the Cartel del Noroeste (CDN) while they were distributing toy guns marked with the legend "CDN" to children in the Escamilla neighborhood.
Monday, December 29, 2025
Cartel del Noroeste Members Detained While Distributing Toy Guns with CDN Logos in Guadalupe, Nuevo León
In Guadalupe, Nuevo León, authorities detained four men allegedly linked to the Cartel del Noroeste (CDN) while they were distributing toy guns marked with the legend "CDN" to children in the Escamilla neighborhood.
Two Guatemalans Linked to CJNG to Stand Trial
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
Two Guatemalans linked to the CJNG will face legal proceedings in Mexico after being arrested with weapons exclusively used by the Army, in a case that once again highlights the international dimension of organized crime and security cooperation. Federal authorities confirmed that the two detainees will remain in pre-trial detention while the trial against them proceeds.
The Attorney General's Office (FGR) reported that the defendants, identified as Pedro Pakim and Leonardo Choc Ical, both Guatemalan nationals, were charged for their alleged involvement in crimes related to the possession of firearms, cartridges, and magazines reserved for the Armed Forces.
Arrest of 2 Guatemalans after joint operation in Michoacán
The capture of the Guatemalans linked to the CJNG occurred in the municipality of Tangancícuaro, Michoacán, as a result of a coordinated operation between the Security Cabinet of the Mexican Government and state authorities. According to the FGR, National Guard elements detected the alleged criminals during patrol duties in the region.
During the operation, the perpetrators allegedly participated in an armed attack against National Guard personnel, an incident that resulted in the death of one of the federal officers. This attack was key to strengthening the investigation file and justifying the criminal prosecution against them.
Weapons and equipment seized during the arrest
At the time of their apprehension, authorities seized an arsenal considered for the exclusive use of the Army, which aggravates the legal situation of the detainees. Among the confiscated items are:
Two firearms
Seven magazines
111 cartridges
A tactical vest with the CJNG initials
This type of weaponry is strictly prohibited for civilians, according to Mexican law, due to its high firepower and its use in military and national security operations.
Legal proceedings and mandatory pre-trial detention
Following the arrest, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, attached to the Specialized Regional Control Prosecutor's Office (FECOR) in Michoacán, presented the necessary evidence to a control judge. Based on this evidence, the judicial authority ordered that both defendants be formally charged.
The judge also imposed the precautionary measure of mandatory pretrial detention, meaning the accused will remain incarcerated while the legal proceedings unfold. This measure is applied in cases involving serious crimes, such as those related to organized crime and the use of weapons restricted to the military.
The CJNG and its Transnational Dimension
The case of the Guatemalans linked to the CJNG reflects the transnational expansion of this criminal group, considered one of the most powerful and violent in Mexico. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has been singled out by national and international authorities for its recruitment capabilities, its presence in several states of the country, and its connections outside of Mexican territory.
The involvement of foreign nationals in criminal activities related to Mexican cartels underscores the complexity of the criminal phenomenon and the need for international cooperation to combat it effectively.
Security and Challenges for the Mexican State
The Attorney General's Office (FGR) emphasized that these types of actions are part of a comprehensive strategy to contain violence, dismantle criminal cells, and guarantee the rule of law. According to the authorities, the arrest and prosecution of individuals linked to criminal organizations sends a message that there will be no impunity, regardless of the nationality of those involved.
The attack against the National Guard and the loss of a federal officer also reignite the debate about the risks faced by security forces and the need to strengthen protection and equipment for those who combat organized crime in the country.
A Key Process in the Fight Against Organized Crime
The trial against these Guatemalans linked to the CJNG will be closely watched, not only because of the seriousness of the crimes charged, but also because of what it represents in the fight against criminal networks that operate beyond borders. The resolution of the case could set an important precedent in terms of security, justice, and regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, authorities reiterated their commitment to continue with coordinated operations to curb violence and weaken the structure of criminal groups that threaten the country's stability.
Tangancícuaro, Michoacán
Source: La Verdad Noticias
Saturday, December 27, 2025
FBI's Most Wanted Trafficker Ryan James Wedding Part 4: Mexico City Raids Yield 62 Motorcycles, Art and Two Olympic Medals
"Socalj" for Borderland Beat
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Doses of methamphetamine and marijuana, 62 high-end motorcycles, two vehicles, works of art, two Olympic medals, ammunition and various documents were found.
It’s unclear to whom the Olympic medals belong, as Wedding had placed 24th in men’s snowboarding giant parallel slalom during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Friday, December 26, 2025
VIDEO: Clashes In La Tuna, Badiraguato, Continue between Gente De Guano-Los Calabazas versus Músico-Chapo Isidro: Sinaloa
BY: CHAR
DECEMBER 26, 2025
On the night of Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, clashes were reported in the La Tuna (Badiraguato mountains) between armed groups. The next day, I received confirmation of the confrontations between Gente De Guano-Los Calabazas and Musico-Chapo Isidro's armed wings.
The clashes occured outside the La Tuna limits, not inside La Tuna, which is a stronghold of drug lord Aureliano Guzman Loera "Guano." In recent months, Guano Guzman and Oscar Manuel Uribe Gastelum "Musico" have held an uneasy truce, which crumbled down in recent months as I reported on a previous post.
COMBAT FOOTAGE IN LA TUNA LIMITS
The following video was sent to me anonymously, and it shows Gente De Guano-Los Calabazas gunmen hunting for Musico-Chapos Isidro members.
VIDEO WAS POSTED ON MY TELEGRAM NEWS PAGE, PLEASE FOLLOW!
Click on the link: IVAN'S DAILY NEWS
Military personnel destroyed more than 116,000 marijuana plants in Mascota: Jalisco
CHAR
THIS INFORMATION WAS POSTED BY EL OCCIDENTAL AND WRITTEN BY: ELIZABETH IBAL
Elements of the Mexican Army made the discovery in that Magical Town.
Elements of the Mexican Army seized nearly twenty marijuana plantations containing more than 116,000 marijuana plants in the municipality of Mascota, in the Sierra Occidental region.
Regarding the seizure, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) reported that, through the Specialized Regional Control Prosecutor's Office (FECOR) and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in the state, it was informed of the destruction of 17 plantations.
The statement indicated that Mexican Army personnel, while conducting ground patrols during Operation Perla, located the marijuana plantations in the mountainous area of that Magical Town.
The troops destroyed approximately 116,900 marijuana plants by uprooting and burning them, and seized 470 kilograms of the drug.
The Ministry of Defense reported no arrests in this operation. Representative samples were collected and turned over to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, which is continuing the investigation.
Seventeen armed men were arrested during Operation Wall in Montemorelos, Nuevo León. Gulf Cartel Group Metros of Reynosa Captured in Nuevo Leon.
CHAR
THIS INFORMATION WAS POSTED BY N+MAS
DECEMBER 20, 2025
A total of 17 armed men were arrested following the activation of Operation Wall during the early hours of Saturday, December 20, in the municipality of Montemorelos, Nuevo León, as a result of coordinated intelligence efforts between federal and state authorities. According to official information, investigative work and strategic analysis detected the incursion of an armed group into Nuevo León territory, which led to the immediate activation of Operation Wall to locate and apprehend them.
This operation is being implemented permanently in rural municipalities of the state of Nuevo León with the objective of preventing the entry and movement of criminal groups, through coordination between federal and state forces.
The deployment was led by the Nuevo León State Police (Fuerza Civil), in coordination with the Federal Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, the National Guard, the Secretariat of National Defense, the National Intelligence Center, the Attorney General's Office, the Nuevo León Attorney General's Office, and the State Investigation Agency. Thanks to this joint action, authorities were able to locate and arrest the 17 individuals, seizing a significant arsenal and tactical equipment.
During the operation, the following items were seized:
- 14 long guns
- 94 magazines,
- 2 handguns with two magazines,
- 8 ballistic helmets
- 14 ballistic vests, seven tactical vests,
- 1 jacket with a police emblem,
- 1 jammer device,
- 2 drones
- Various materials for the manufacture of explosives.
Authorities emphasized that the seizure of this equipment represents a significant blow to the operational capabilities of the arrested group. The identities of those arrested in Montemorelos, whose ages range from 18 to 39 years old, are as follows:
- Diego Iván N.,
- Eduardo N.,
- Francisco N.,
- Javier N.,
- Óscar Osvaldo N.,
- Juan de Dios N.,
- Emmanuel N.,
- Kevin Abdiel N.,
- Héctor Enrique N.,
- Carlos David N.,
- Óscar Adrián N.,
- Miguel Ángel N.,
- Grember Aldair N.,
- Jesús Guadalupe N.,
- Gustavo Adolfo N.,
- Juan Jesús N.
- Félix Osmar N.
The Nuevo León State Police and federal authorities reported that they maintain a police presence in the citrus-growing region and that Operation Wall remains active, while intelligence work is being carried out to reinforce security in the area.
Pretrial detention ordered for relatives of "Los Chapitos". Father in law and brother in law of Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar will remain in prison.
CHAR
THIS INFORMATION WAS POSTED BY EL OCCIDENTAL AND WAS WRITTEN BY: RAMON ORTEGA
Financial operators of "Los Chapitos" linked to drug and arms trafficking are arrested in Jalisco.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office charged Mario N. and Mario Alfredo N., relatives and financial operators of the criminal group known as Los Chapitos, before a federal judge for their probable involvement in several crimes.
The defendants are Mario Alfredo L., 44 years old, alias "Siete," brother-in-law and financial operator of Iván Archivaldo G., known as "El Chapito," and Mario L., 69 years old, alias "Niño," father-in-law and also identified as a financial operator of Iván Archivaldo G.
During the hearing held at the Puente Grande Courthouse, the judge declared their arrest by federal forces legal and ordered their pretrial detention, after the defense requested an extension of the constitutional deadline of 144 hours to gather evidence in their defense.
Mario N. was charged with drug offenses, specifically possession with intent to distribute, in the form of selling methamphetamine hydrochloride; possession of a firearm and ammunition for the exclusive use of the armed forces; and money laundering.
Mario Alfredo N. was charged with drug offenses, specifically possession with intent to distribute, in the form of selling methamphetamine hydrochloride and fentanyl; possession of firearms and ammunition also for the exclusive use of the Army and Armed Forces; and money laundering.
The judge ordered both men held in pretrial detention until the resumption of the hearing, at which time it will be determined whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge them with the aforementioned crimes.
Both men were arrested on Tuesday in an operation carried out by the Attorney General's Office and the Mexican Army, which raided two residences in the Bajío de Zapopan and Vallarta Universidad neighborhoods.
During the operation, authorities seized seven bags of drugs, four handguns, ammunition, magazines, two SUVs and a luxury vehicle, a motorcycle, cell phones, and cash.
"Frozen" in San Lázaro: 30 Initiatives Against the Recruitment of Minors by Organized Crime
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
The Chamber of Deputies is keeping "frozen" at least 30 initiatives presented during the current legislative session to criminalize the recruitment of children and adolescents by organized crime, and to punish this crime with sentences of 20, 35, 50, and even 140 years in prison.
MILENIO reported this Monday that the Mexican government has made preventing the recruitment of minors under 18 a priority for the next four years, according to the National Program for the Protection of Children and Adolescents 2025-2030 (Pronapinna).
The Network for the Rights of Children in Mexico (Redim) estimates that between 145,000 and 250,000 children and adolescents are at risk of being recruited by organized crime due to their socioeconomic circumstances.
Legislators from all parliamentary groups have stressed the urgency of punishing those who enlist, hire, or abduct minors to force them to participate in the commission of crimes, illicit activities, or armed actions, but so far none of these proposals have progressed.
Pueblos Fundadores (CRAC-PF) presented 19 minors to eventually become part of the community police force.
However, in an interview with MILENIO, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Kenia López, expressed confidence in the willingness of the various political forces to reach agreements and approve the reform against the criminal recruitment of children and adolescents in the next ordinary session.
“Clearly, there is forced recruitment of young people, of adolescents, and that must be stopped. I hope that we can build the agreement so that, in the session that begins in February, this bill becomes an approved law, goes to the Senate, and then becomes effective law to benefit families in Mexico,” emphasized the PAN legislator and proponent of one of the initiatives on this matter. López maintained that the reform must consider both preventive and punitive aspects to prevent the recruitment of young people, but also to severely punish those who recruit them and force them to commit crimes.
The urgency to criminalize and punish the recruitment of minors by organized crime in the Federal Penal Code gained renewed momentum after the assassination of the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo, on November 1, at the hands of Víctor Manuel Ubaldo, a 17-year-old identified by the Michoacán Attorney General's Office as a hitman for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
“It's a criminal act to force them to commit a crime, as has been clear in several cases, such as that of Carlos Manzo. 17 years old, that is, perhaps that young man who is no longer alive, who committed a very serious crime, was recruited in that way. How many young people, minors or young adults, are used by organized crime? We must put a stop to the exploitation of our young people by organized crime,” said Congressman Ricardo Mejía of the PT party, a proponent of another of the initiatives.
Minors participate in protest against recruitment of children by organised crime.
The legislator from Coahuila assured that the Justice Committee plans to convene its members in January to discuss the proposals and establish the criminal offense of forced recruitment of minors by criminal organizations.
“Who is this aimed at? Against the criminal organizations that, through social media, false job offers, or any other means they can use to deceive and then force young people; they recruit them and then turn them into informants, lookouts, and hitmen for organized crime,” he said.
Life imprisonment for recruiters
Among the 30 "stalled" initiatives to define and punish the recruitment of minors by organized crime, the one presented by PAN deputy Héctor Saúl Téllez, and supported by his parliamentary group, stands out for its severity, proposing a sentence of up to 140 years in prison.
“The crime of unlawful recruitment is committed by anyone who uses, enlists, recruits, hires, incorporates, captures, admits, or abducts, and demands, forces, or coerces children and adolescents to participate directly or indirectly in the commission of one or more crimes, illicit or violent activities, hostilities, or armed actions. This crime shall be punishable by eighty to one hundred and forty years of imprisonment,” the initiative states.
With varying nuances in the definition of the crime and differences in the proposed penalties, legislators such as the coordinator of the PRI parliamentary group, Rubén Moreira; the leader of the MC caucus, Ivonne Ortega; Deputy Margarita Zavala, from the PAN; Naty Jiménez, from Morena; Felipe Delgado Carrillo, from the PVEM, as well as Kenia López and Ricardo Mejía, among others, have presented their respective initiatives on the matter, awaiting committee review and discussion in the plenary session.
Seven states at high risk of recruitment
In its hearing before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on November 20 in Miami, Florida, the Network for Children's Rights in Mexico warned that, according to research conducted in 2021 and updated in 2025, between 145,000 and 250,000 children and adolescents are at risk of being recruited or used by organized crime groups in Mexico.
“Recruitment occurs primarily in territories where violence and impunity have become normalized. REDIM's studies show common patterns in Veracruz, Michoacán, Mexico City, Puebla, Chiapas, the State of Mexico, and Jalisco, where poverty, school dropout, domestic violence, armed presence, and a lack of protection guarantees converge,” it stated. The organization warned that Mexico lacks a comprehensive, sustained, and specialized public policy to prevent, identify, address, and provide reparations to victims of recruitment, while the current legal framework neither recognizes recruitment as a distinct crime nor guarantees that recruited adolescents are recognized as victims.
Society and self-defence groups call for measures against recruitment for crime.
Therefore, it urged the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to issue a recommendation to compel the Mexican State to criminalize the offense, establish prevention and early identification mechanisms, and adopt a national program for disengagement and comprehensive reparations.
Sources: Milenio, Borderland Beat Archives
José Ramón López Beltrán, Son of AMLO, is Caught on Camera Leaving a Luxury Shop in Houston
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
José Ramón López Beltrán, son of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, was caught on video leaving the luxury store Loro Piana with a Hermès bag. The images show the young man in Houston, Texas, in one of the most exclusive shopping areas in the United States.
In the video, shared on social media by Vampipe, López Beltrán is seen wearing a black sweatshirt and carrying a shopping bag from the French brand Hermès in his right hand. As he leaves the establishment, he looks around and glances at the camera filming him.
Loro Piana, an Italian luxury brand, is known for its "quiet luxury," characterized by the absence of flashy logos and by prioritizing quality, discretion, and timeless design. According to information from specialized websites and resellers, the brand sells coats, bags, and shoes with prices ranging from 50,000 to over 150,000 pesos.
This isn’t the only recent case involving AMLO's family members. Last July, Andrés López Beltrán, better known as "Andy," another of López Obrador's sons, was seen during a trip to Japan, where he stayed in luxury hotels and was photographed leaving a Prada store.
What other politicians or officials have been caught enjoying luxuries?
Both incidents have added to a series of accusations and controversies regarding the lifestyle of various public figures, in contrast to the austerity discourse promoted by the former president.
Among the cases mentioned are that of Congressman Ricardo Monreal Ávila, seen at an exclusive hotel in Madrid, a city where his ally Pedro Haces Barba also vacationed.
And that of the Secretary of Public Education, Mario Delgado Carrillo, photographed at the Pousada de Lisboa hotel; as well as that of the politician from Veracruz, Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, photographed in Capri, Italy, after becoming an ally of Morena after leaving the PAN (National Action Party) to join the ruling party's bloc in the vote on the judicial reform.
Loro Piana 4444 Westheimer Rd Bldg F Houston, Texas
Source: Los Noticieristas
Thursday, December 25, 2025
Zetas Founding Member 'Don Zefe' Killed; He Also Resided in US & Canada
"Morogris" for Borderland Beat
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| Zeferino Pena Cuellar, alias Don Zefe or El Zefe, key figure in the creation of Los Zetas, was killed this week in Nuevo Leon |
Nuevo León state authorities confirmed that Zeferino Peña Cuéllar, commonly known by his alias "Don Zefe," was killed in a shootout with police officers at his estate in Santiago, Nuevo León. Don Zefe was affiliated with the Gulf Cartel during the 1990s and early 2000s and is often cited as one of the founding members of the core group that later evolved into Los Zetas under the leadership of kingpin Osiel Cárdenas Guillén. However, Don Zefe largely avoided law enforcement scrutiny and media coverage over the years up until his death and was believed to have retired for several years.
The incident occurred early in the afternoon on Tuesday, December 23, when the State Investigative Agency (AEI) reported the presence of armed men near an estate in Santiago. Upon arriving at the scene, authorities came under gunfire, resulting in a shootout.
Two men were killed during the exchange, and local media quickly reported that one of them was Don Zefe. The other victim was David Calderón, a former military officer. Investigators later confirmed that Don Zefe was suspected of managing drug trafficking operations in Nuevo Leon, reportedly under a new criminal organization he was attempting to establish in the area.
Sources consulted by Borderland Beat indicated that Don Zefe had been spending a considerable amount of time in Nuevo León since the pandemic. His activities remained largely unknown for years because he had retired for an extended period. Upon emerging from retirement, he maintained a low profile while attempting to form a new criminal organization, possibly operating as an independent drug trafficker.
With Components Purchased Online, This Is How Colombian Drug Traffickers' Semi-Submersibles Operate
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
According to specialized analyses by the Colombian Navy, these narco-submarines or semi-submersibles operate with technological tools easily acquired on sites like Amazon.
With an investment of less than 100,000 pesos, a criminal organization can build a basic navigation system capable of operating an autonomous semi-submersible for cocaine transport, which can be remotely controlled via satellite connection, if a Starlink antenna is added, without the need for a crew on board.
This type of technology, far from being for military use, is comprised of commercial equipment available on open e-commerce platforms.
According to specialized analyses by the Colombian Navy, these narco-submarines or semi-submersibles, used for drug trafficking to North America, operate with technological tools easily acquired on sites like Amazon and other platforms specializing in the sale of navigation equipment for boats and sailboats.
For example, the Naval Supply website offers the NAC-3 autopilot package, a navigation computer capable of controlling a vessel's rudder with high precision.
The system includes a compass and a sensor that reports the rudder's position in real time. This kit costs 57,990 Mexican pesos and represents the most expensive component in the manufacture of an autopilot for an unmanned semi-submersible.
Another key element is the GPS navigator, whose price ranges from 4,689 to 17,590 pesos on platforms like Amazon. The navigation system is complemented by at least three Starlink antennas, with an average cost of 12,000 pesos each, necessary to maintain a stable internet connection.
In addition, there are two Wi-Fi signal repeaters, priced from 100 to 1,000 pesos, as well as network cabling and other minor components. “The autopilot they use is the same one installed on a sailboat or a pleasure yacht; it's completely commercial equipment,” explained Frigate Captain Víctor Antonio González Badrán, director of the International Center for Research and Analysis Against Maritime Drug Trafficking.
According to technical studies, the navigation system, which includes an autopilot, GPS, cameras, and satellite connectivity, can cost less than 100,000 pesos. In contrast, the total price of the semi-submersible ranges between $150,000 and $200,000, including engines, hull, propulsion systems, and structure.
“We are not talking about sophisticated technology or technology for exclusive military use; all the components can be purchased on the legal market,” the naval officer emphasized.
These vessels have a cargo capacity of between one and one and a half tons of cocaine hydrochloride, with an approximate range of 300 nautical miles, although their range can be extended through refueling at sea.
Furthermore, they are designed to optimize space exclusively for drugs, eliminating areas intended for crew, provisions, or habitability systems.
“By not carrying people on board, criminal organizations eliminate the risk of human captures and significantly reduce direct prosecution processes,” González Badrán warned.
This method, he explained, represents a structural change in maritime drug trafficking, as it makes it difficult to obtain judicial and intelligence information from detainees.
Colombia
The Colombian Navy considers that autonomous semi-submersibles mark a new technological milestone in transnational organized crime.
“It is a natural evolution of drug trafficking: less human risk, greater cargo capacity, and remote control from anywhere in the world,” said the director of SINCÓM, who warned that these vessels also represent a risk to maritime safety, as they navigate without a crew on commercial routes. The phenomenon confirms that drug trafficking is innovating not only in routes, but also in technology, by taking advantage of tools designed for civilian and recreational use and transforming them into clandestine platforms for illicit transport in the world's seas.
Source: Milenio
The father-in-law and brother-in-law of Iván Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, leader of Los Chapitos, were arrested in Zapopan, Jalisco. The Blows againts the Los Chapitos Cartel continue.
CHAR
THIS ARTICLE WAS POSTED BY EL OCCIDENTAL AND WAS WRITTEN BY: ELIZABETH IBAL
The men, aged 44 and 69, are suspected of being drug traffickers. / Courtesy: SSPC.
The father-in-law and brother-in-law of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, alleged leader of "Los Chapitos," were arrested in an operation involving two raids in Zapopan.
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection reported this Tuesday afternoon that, in coordination with the Attorney General's Office and the Mexican Army, they raided two residences in the Bajío de Zapopan and Vallarta Universidad neighborhoods.
There, they arrested Mario Alfredo L., 44, alias "Siete," the brother-in-law and financial operator of Iván Archivaldo G., known as "El Chapito," and Mario L., 69, alias "Niño," also identified as a financial operator and the father-in-law of the same leader of that criminal group.
Authorities seized seven bags of drugs, four handguns, ammunition, magazines, two SUVs and a luxury vehicle, a motorcycle, cell phones, and cash.
In another operation carried out in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, members of these law enforcement agencies arrested Carlos Gabriel R., 37, also known as "Pollo," the leader of a criminal cell known as Los Jordán, linked to the Los Chapitos faction of the Pacific or Sinaloa Cartel. Jesús Arturo, 40, was also arrested.
Carlos Gabriel has at least three outstanding arrest warrants for aggravated homicide. Authorities seized two firearms, a bag of drugs, radio communication equipment, and a vehicle.
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Merry Christmas! Borderland Beat Family!
'El Menchito' Makes a Last-Ditch Effort; Seeks a New Trial or Sentence
“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat
“Despite the financial incentives, years of effort, and resources dedicated to his capture, El Mencho has always been one step ahead. So the (United States) government took what it could get: his son,” says the new attempt by the son of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho, the absolute leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), to one day get out of prison.
Rubén Oseguera González, alias El Menchito, has appealed his life sentence in federal court in Washington to seek a new trial or, at least, a reduced sentence.
The document, accessed by MILENIO, claims that the man was subjected to an unfair trial, surrounded by the bloody myths of the Jalisco Cartel, unrealistic testimonies, and evidence that should never have reached the jury.
It was September 2024 when Oseguera was tried for just under a month for cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking and possession and use of firearms and instruments of destruction for drug trafficking purposes.
Former drug traffickers, US agents, and Mexican authorities testified against the man, then 34 years old, to convince a jury that this light-skinned young man, wearing glasses and almost always a polo shirt, had been El Mencho's right-hand man during his youth and throughout his adult life while free.
Elpidio Mojarro Ramírez, a former operator of the Millennium Cartel, a former colleague of El Mencho and now a sworn enemy of Oseguera Cervantes, claimed that he met El Menchito when he was about 17 years old. “He was always listening, I imagine he was learning (...) he was always close to his father, I imagine he was helping his father,” testified Mojarro, who by then had obtained his freedom thanks to becoming an informant for Washington.
Another key witness for the prosecution was Herminio Gómez Ancira, alias El Indio, former director of the Municipal Police in Villa Purificación and one of El Mencho's several bodyguards. The man, who never hid his admiration for his criminal boss, gave several accounts that, at times, bordered on the fantastical. Mass weddings that left no evidence, plants that healed bullet wounds, and, of course, executions left and right for drug debts.
“His father didn't want to, but that was El Menchito's idea, to produce fentanyl (...) Menchito himself told me it was his idea,” El Indio said, also linking Rubén Oseguera to the attack on a Mexican Army helicopter that ultimately crashed, leaving several dead and wounded.
His testimony was vital in El Menchito being found guilty and eventually sentenced in March 2025 by the judge in the case, Beryl A. Howell, to life imprisonment plus 30 years.
“The cooperating witnesses generally linked Oseguera González to his father's drug trafficking activities. But one, Herminio Gómez Ancira, went much further. His testimony, discussed in detail below, bordered on the delusional. He told uncorroborated stories about his apparent magical healing powers, hiding weapons in caves, gold bars, and murders,” states El Menchito's defense document, “he claimed to have moved multi-ton shipments of cocaine by hand from boats, across the sand, to waiting trucks.”
In addition, the motion asserts that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Kevin Novick gave improper testimony by interpreting intercepted messages from various BlackBerry devices and claiming that they were spoken or even written by El Menchito. “The court allowed the government to spend more than half of the trial on largely irrelevant stories about the downing of a military helicopter, images of expensive watches, and stories of parties with 10,000 people.
All that, and yet, in a case involving drug imports into the United States, there was not a shred of evidence linking Oseguera González to any drug seizures," states Menchito's appeal to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals by San Diego lawyer Devin Burstein, a criminal litigator different from the duo who represented Rubén Oseguera during his trial: Jan Ronis and Anthony Colombo Jr, "this court should reverse and order a new trial or, at least, a new sentence."
The appeal is one of the last avenues available to El Mencho's son to avoid spending the rest of his life in the Supermax Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado, an almost impenetrable complex where he is also subject to Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) that keep him almost completely isolated from everyone and allow him out of his cell for only a few hours a week.
The young man was arrested in 2015 in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, when he was 25 years old, and since then he has been behind bars, either in Mexican or U.S. territory after his extradition in 2020.
“By virtue of his famous family, securing a truly fair trial for Rubén Oseguera González was always difficult. The sensationalism inherent in prosecuting the proclaimed ‘drug prince of Jalisco,’ the son of a notorious leader of a Mexican cartel, could easily turn the presumption of innocence against him,” the appeal concludes.
Source: Milenio
Monday, December 22, 2025
Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez "El Panu" "El Lobo" high ranking Los Chapitos/La Chapiza Cartel Member killed in brazen attack in Mexico City. El Panu was in Mexico City for family vacations according journalist Carlos Jimenez.
CHAR
DECEMBER 22, 2025
SOURCE: HEARST_BB
BY: CHAR
The night of this past Sunday, December 21, 2025, rumors swirled about a high-profile murder taking place in Mexico City. This armed attack took place in "Zona Rosa" or "Pink Zone," in the borough of Cuahtemoc in Mexico City. The Pink Zone is renowned for its vibrant nightclubs, restaurants, and nightlife. The male subject, who was attacked while eating in a restaurant alongside his family, was named Oscar Ruiz, an alleged Mazatlan hotel business owner. Reports later changed to reveal that Oscar Ruiz was actually Oscar Noe Medina Gonzalez, "El Panu," or "El Lobo," for whom the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the U.S. Department of State offer a $4 million reward. The United States Government describes El Panu's role in the Los Chapitos Cartel as,
"the principal deputy for Ivan Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, a high-level leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the day-to-day commander of Guzmán Salazar’s and his brothers’ – the Chapitos’ – security apparatus. Medina Gonzalez oversees each of the Chapitos’ regional commanders, who are responsible for security in their designated areas of Mexico, and the Chapitos’ gunmen — the sicarios — who are dispatched where needed to protect the Chapitos’ fentanyl trafficking operations, assassinate rival cartel members, demolish unsupportive businesses, capture contested territory, intimidate civilians, and attack law enforcement, in furtherance of the Cartel’s fentanyl trafficking business."
CARLOS JIMENEZ OR C4JIMENEZ, JOURNALIST EXPERT IN MEXICO CITY CRIMES, CONFIRMS THE DEATH OF EL PANU LOS CHAPITOS HIGH RANKING MEMBER
EL PANU'S BODY AFTER THE ATTACK
THE ALLEGED HITMAN WHO CARRIED OUT THE HIT ON PANU
ALLEGED FATHER-IN-LAW OF EL PANU/ ADOLFO ROJO MONTOYA WAS A FORMER DEPUTY IN THE PARTIDO NACIONAL OR PAN PARTY/ CURRENTLY WAS A TOURIST DIRECTOR IN MAZATLAN, SINALOA.
LASTLY, CARLOS JIMENEZ ON HIS X ACCOUNT STATED THAT THE MOTHER OF "EL PANU" is named GUADALUPE GONZALEZ CONFIRMED THE DEATH OF HIS SON NAMED OSCAR NOE MEDINA GONZALEZ. MRS. GUADALUPE GONZALEZ STATED THAT SHE IS A FARMER FROM DURANGO.
ZETA TIJUANA
The man murdered in Mexico City's Zona Rosa is believed to be "El Panu," the head of security for Los Chapitos.
WRITTEN BY: CARLOS ACEVEDO ALVAREZ
On the night of December 21, 2025, a man was shot and killed inside the Luau restaurant, located in the Juárez neighborhood of the Zona Rosa in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City. The attack was a targeted killing perpetrated by at least one hitman. Authorities in Mexico City are investigating whether the victim was Óscar Noé Medina González, also known as “El Panu,” an alleged high-ranking operative of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and a target of the U.S. government, which had offered a reward of up to $4 million for his capture.
According to initial reports from the Mexico City Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) and the Mexico City Attorney General's Office (FGJCDMX), the attack occurred inside the Luau restaurant on Niza Street, where a woman and two men were eating when an armed man entered and fired directly at one of them. The gunman then fled on a motorcycle with an accomplice, and as of yet, no arrests have been made. According to official reports, one man died at the scene, and another person was injured by gunfire and taken to a hospital, while the woman accompanying them was unharmed.
Mexico City authorities reported that SSC (Mexico City Police) personnel cordoned off the area and notified the Public Prosecutor's Office, which opened an investigation into intentional homicide and injuries caused by firearms. They also ordered a review of C5 (Mexico City's integrated command and control center) surveillance footage from Niza Street and surrounding areas to reconstruct the attackers' escape route. At the crime scene, forensic services collected 19 ballistic evidence items, including spent shell casings of 9mm and .45 AUTO caliber, as well as a loaded magazine. The victim's body had 28 injuries, 27 of which were gunshot wounds to the face, head, chest, and extremities, as documented in the forensic reports.
Initially, the murdered man's partner identified him as Óscar Ruiz Domínguez and stated that they had arrived in Mexico City on December 20, 2025, and were staying in a rented house in Naucalpan, State of Mexico. The woman, identified as María José Rojo Sambrano, informed authorities that she had been in a relationship with the victim for six years, that she did not know his phone number because they only communicated through the Telegram app, and that he was allegedly involved in real estate transactions, although she was unaware of any threats against him or his criminal record.
However, sources consulted by various media outlets and journalist Carlos Jiménez, known as C4 Jiménez, indicated that there are signs that the murdered man was actually Óscar Noé Medina González, alias “El Panu,” an alleged member of the Los Chapitos faction. According to these reports, the victim's mother, identified as Guadalupe González, reportedly confirmed to authorities that the deceased man was her son, Óscar Noé, although she stated that he was involved in agricultural activities in Durango and said she did not know what her son did for a living. Other versions suggest that the deceased was a partner in a hotel chain in Mazatlán, which is part of the lines of investigation being reviewed by Mexico City authorities.
Information incorporated by the media from U.S. federal documents indicates that Óscar Noé Medina González, alias “El Panu,” was considered a high-ranking operator of the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel and one of Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar's main lieutenants. According to U.S. government wanted posters, “El Panu” allegedly served as head of security for Joaquín Guzmán Loera's sons and led an operation dedicated to trafficking cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and marijuana from Mexico to the United States, for which a reward of up to $4 million was offered for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
The profiles released about Medina González describe him as maintaining a low profile that allowed him to stay off the radar of rival organizations and Mexican and U.S. authorities, despite occupying a significant position within the criminal structure. journalistic reports mention that “El Panu” allegedly assumed the head of security for Los Chapitos after the murder of Jorge Humberto Figueroa Benítez, alias “El 27” or “La Perris,” which placed him in a strategic position within the group's organizational chart. To date, the Mexico City Attorney General's Office (FGJCDMX) and the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) have not officially confirmed that the person murdered at the Luau restaurant is Óscar Noé Medina González, alias “El Panu,” and they are keeping the investigation open to corroborate the deceased's identity through forensic analysis and national and international intelligence sharing. The agencies have indicated that the victim's possible connection to an international criminal organization has heightened attention to the case because the homicide occurred in a busy tourist and commercial area of the capital, raising concerns about the operation of criminal groups in Mexico City.
Authorities reported that they are continuing to interview family members who witnessed the attack, including the deceased's mother and sister, as well as restaurant staff, to determine if the name Óscar Ruiz Domínguez was a false identity used to move around the capital. The FGJCDMX stated that forensic results and intelligence sharing with international agencies will confirm or rule out whether the man murdered in the Juárez neighborhood is the alleged operator of Los Chapitos wanted by the United States.
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