"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
A young man by the name of Abraham León finds himself having to answer several questions asked by the assassins from the Chapiza mob. They recently abducted him from the Los Ciruelos ranch that lies east of Culiacán.
As a captive, he already knows that his life in this world is over. And that there really isn’t much he can say in his defense considering the predicament that he’s in. For the most part he’s too much in shock to bother uttering anything.
The Chapo enforcers have him identified as a Mayiza operative. Their only plans here involve removing his head with a machete once the questioning is over.
Sicario #1: Go ahead, we’re recording.
Sicario #2: Who were you working for young man?
Captive: For Comanche and his brother McKlein.
Sicario #2: What all did he tell you?
Captive: He always promised me so many things but never came through with anything
Sicario #2: He never gave you anything?
Captive: No.
Sicario #2: How long have you been working for him?
Captive: Just under 2 months.
Sicario #2: Are you a marrano (pig)? I’m talking to you!
Captive: Yes sir.
Sicario #2: This will be the fate of every marrano.
Sicario #3: We are the absoluto Ivan Archivaldo mob.
Source: Ivan’s Daily News
By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
On 28 October, the United States Secretary of War announced it conducted strikes against four boats allegedly trafficking drugs in the Eastern Pacific, killing a total of 14 alleged traffickers. The strikes left one survivor, who the Mexican navy unsuccessfully attempted to rescue at the request of the US Coast Guard.
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
From the financial mastermind to the corrupt former police officer in Mexico, all were sanctioned by the Treasury Department. Here are the details of the operation.
The U.S. Treasury Department launched a swift financial offensive against one of the most complex organized crime networks operating from Mexico.
According to a press release issued this Thursday, October 30, 2025, Washington sanctioned a vast transnational organization dedicated to smuggling thousands of migrants into the United States.
How was a global network dismantled?
The epicenter of their operations: Cancún, the tourist heart of Mexico, from where they wove a global network of corruption, money laundering, and strategic alliances with the Sinaloa Cartel.
This action by the U.S. Treasury represents a blow to the organized crime structures that have transformed the Riviera Maya into a strategic enclave for their operations.
Why is Cancún the epicenter of the criminal network?
It is a tourist paradise that serves as a double front: on the one hand, a global leisure destination; on the other, a nerve center for money laundering and criminal logistics.
According to the statement, by cutting off their financial flows, the aim is to paralyze not only human trafficking, but also their drug trafficking and corruption activities.
Which companies are linked to the migrant smuggling network?
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) formally designated the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (Bhardwaj HSO) and its leadership under Executive Order 13581, which targets transnational criminal organizations.
The objective of the sanction was stated unequivocally by the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John K. Hurley, who declared:
"Today, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, this action disrupts this network's ability to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States."
"The Trump Administration will continue to target and dismantle transnational terrorist criminal organizations to protect the American people."
Who participated in the blow against organized crime?
The operation was the result of close international cooperation, coordinated by OFAC with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) of the Mexican government.
This joint effort was key to putting a face to the organization, a group of operatives who ran the business from the shadows of the Riviera Maya.
Faces behind the crime: Who's who in the Bhardwaj Network?
Dismantling a criminal machine of this magnitude requires neutralizing its architects: the leaders who manage logistics, launder money, and weave the web of corruption that guarantees their impunity.
The OFAC investigation identified the central figures of the Bhardwaj HSO, naming those responsible for this multimillion-dollar operation.
The Mastermind: Vikrant Bhardwaj. Leader of the organization with dual Indian and Mexican citizenship. Bhardwaj presented himself as the founder and CEO of a conglomerate of companies in Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
This corporate structure was not just a front, but the engine for collecting and laundering the profits from human and drug trafficking.
The Facilitator: Jose German Valadez Flores. Bhardwaj's lieutenant on the ground. This businessman and drug trafficker was responsible for smuggling migrants in Cancún, a task he ensured by greasing the wheels of official corruption through the systematic bribery of Mexican officials.
The Mexican: Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas. A former police officer from the state of Quintana Roo, he served as the network's privileged access point to the Cancún International Airport.
Since 2020, Mendoza used his position to coordinate the arrival and departure of undocumented migrants, as well as to facilitate the organization's drug trafficking activities through the airport.
The financial partner: Indu Rani. Bhardwaj's wife, also with dual Indian-Mexican citizenship. Rani was a key figure in the financial operations, acting as a co-shareholder in several of the key companies used for money laundering.
The network's hierarchy, from the financial mastermind to the corrupt ex-police officer, was the driving force behind a sophisticated modus operandi that combined the logistics of a multinational corporation with the brutality of a cartel.
Modus operandi: Yachts, clandestine routes, and cartel support
The Bhardwaj HSO was distinguished by its logistical sophistication, which merged air and sea transport with strategic alliances with Mexico's most powerful cartels.
This method guaranteed a constant and lucrative flow of migrants from Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia to the United States, generating thousands of dollars in profit per individual.
The process followed a meticulously planned route:
Sea transport: The network used its own yachts and marinas to bring migrants ashore in Mexico.
Accommodation in Cancún: Once ashore, the migrants were housed in hostels and hotels controlled by the organization, awaiting the next stage of their journey.
Transfer to the Border: In coordination with its criminal partners, the network moved migrants north, using the strategic Tapachula-Cancun-Mexicali corridor to reach the U.S. border.
The organization's danger is magnified by its alliances.
The investigation confirmed that the Bhardwaj HSO received direct operational support from members of the Sinaloa Cartel and collaborated closely with the Hernandez Salas TCO, another human trafficking organization already sanctioned by OFAC in 2023.
This alliance is not a minor detail: it demonstrates the outsourcing of logistical services among organized crime elites, where human trafficking becomes just one more business unit within a diversified criminal portfolio.
How did the global money laundering empire operate?
Every high-level transnational criminal organization relies on a corporate front to legitimize its profits and integrate them into the global financial system.
Through a network of companies in sectors as diverse as real estate, tourism, and commerce, Bhardwaj's network built a money laundering empire with operations in Mexico, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
The 16 companies sanctioned by OFAC are a testament to its global reach:
Michigantap Hospitality Private Limited (Restaurant and bar, India)
VVN Buildcon Private Limited (Real estate, India)
Bhavishya Realcon Private Limited (Real estate, India)
VVN Real Estate L.L.C. (Real estate, United Arab Emirates)
Black Gold Plus Energies Trading L.L.C. (Energy trading, United Arab Emirates)
V AND V Astillero, S.A. de C.V. (Yacht Services, Mexico)
Principessa Tour Operator, S.A. de C.V. (Tourist Services, Mexico)
VNV Store, S.A. de C.V. (Supermarket, Mexico)
Bhardwaj, S.A. de C.V. (Real Estate, Mexico)
Thercumex, S.A. de C.V. (Business Support Services, Mexico)
VNV Fashions, S.A. de C.V. (Textiles, Mexico)
Controlled by Vikrant Bhardwaj and Indu Rani:
Veena Shivani Estates Private Limited (Real Estate, India)
Controlled by Jose German Valadez Flores:
Gerlife Construction, S.A. de C.V. (Construction, Mexico)
Vespa Trading Company, S.A. de C.V. (Transportation, Mexico)
Comercialicun, S.A. de C.V. (Reservation Services, Mexico)
Controlled by Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas:
Cargas Y Regulaciones Eléctricas, S.A. de C.V. (Construction, Mexico)
Dismantling this corporate network is key, but what are the real consequences of these designations for the organization and its members?
What does it mean to be on the U.S. Blacklist?
Being included on the OFAC list is tantamount to financial death and represents almost total isolation from the U.S. commercial and banking system, a devastating blow to any person or entity with international operations.
The measure imposes a rigorous economic blockade with immediate and far-reaching implications.
The direct consequences of the sanction are as follows:
Total asset freeze
All property and interests in property of the designated individuals and entities that are in the United States or in the possession of U.S. citizens are immediately blocked and must be reported to OFAC.
Prohibition on Transactions with the United States
U.S. citizens, residents, and companies are prohibited from conducting any type of transaction with sanctioned individuals and companies. This includes receiving or providing funds, goods, or services, effectively cutting off their access to the world's largest financial market and system.
Risk of Secondary Sanctions Globally
Financial institutions and other non-U.S. entities also risk sanctions if they conduct or facilitate significant transactions with the sanctioned individuals and companies, creating a deterrent effect that isolates the network from its partners worldwide.
The Treasury Department states that the ultimate goal of these measures is not punishment, but rather "to bring about positive behavioral change," leaving open the legal avenue to request removal from the list.
Source: Telediario
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"Sol Prendido for Borderland Beat
Police officers were attacked by suspected gunmen from the Northeast Cartel while conducting a deployment as part of Operation Muralla.
A clash between state police and suspected members of the Northeast Cartel resulted in the deaths of two armed civilians, the arrest of seven people, and the seizure of a vehicle with improvised armor, weapons, and drugs in Nuevo León.
The incident occurred this Monday in the rural municipality of Los Aldama, where the suspected criminals opened fire on the officers who were carrying out a strategic deployment as part of Operation Muralla, which aims to curb the advance of organized crime toward the metropolitan area.
No police officers were reported injured in the incident, but authorities did seize 12 long guns, a .50 caliber rifle, a pickup truck, tactical gear, and various quantities of drugs.
The State Public Security Secretariat stated that the information is preliminary; however, the situation is under control, and members of the National Defense, the National Guard, and the Civil Force Air Division were deployed to the scene to provide support.
Drug Trafficking Leaves Its Mark in Nuevo León
Despite clashes like the one that occurred this Monday in Los Aldama, the State Public Security Secretary, Gerardo Escamilla, recently asserted that high-impact crimes have been decreasing in the state.
The state official appeared before local legislators during the review of the Fourth Government Report, where he highlighted that homicides have decreased by 54% and femicides by 82%.
According to figures from the Attorney General's Office, from January to July 2024, 930 homicides were recorded in Nuevo León, compared to 908 during the same period last year.
In recent years, Nuevo León has seen an increase in violence and insecurity, linked to drug trafficking and organized crime.
Source: El Financiero
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
The Michoacán Attorney General announced that the group known as "Blancos de Troya," led by "El Botox," is responsible for the murder of the lemon grower leader.
Amid a heavy security operation, the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, arrived in Michoacán Tuesday morning aboard a Black Hawk helicopter from the Mexican Navy.
His arrival at 9:12 AM at the facilities of the 43rd Military Zone, based in Apatzingán, marked the beginning of an emergency meeting between federal and state authorities to address the crisis of violence and extortion in the Tierra Caliente region.
The arrival of the federal official was accompanied by a heavy deployment of armed forces. National Guard patrols toured the streets surrounding the military compound to ensure the security of the meeting.
Personnel from the Civil Guard and the State Attorney General's Office secured the military perimeter, while a helicopter from the Ministry of National Defense landed minutes later, presumably with General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo on board.
Between 8:30 and 8:35 a.m., the Secretary of Public Security of Michoacán, Juan Carlos Oseguera Cortés, and the State Attorney General, Carlos Torres Piña, also arrived and joined the private meeting led by Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla.
Notably, the mayor of Apatzingán, Fanny Arreola Pichardo, was not invited, nor was the family of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, the lemon producer murdered last week, in attendance.
According to official sources, the meeting focused on the progress of the investigation into the murder of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, leader of the Citrus Growers Association of the Apatzingán Valley, and on the strategy to curb extortion against agricultural producers.
What information have the authorities released regarding the murder of Bernardo Bravo?
Attorney General Carlos Torres Piña revealed that the investigation points to the criminal group “Blancos de Troya,” led by a man known as “El Botox,” as the perpetrators and masterminds of the murder.
In an interview with Milenio Television, he explained that the motive for the crime could be related to extortion, property disputes, or land conflicts.
“These are the possible suspects; this is what we have at the moment. This information was gathered from various investigations, interviews, and expert reports,” Torres Piña stated. The prosecutor added that arrest warrants will be issued in the coming days against those allegedly responsible not only for the murder of the lemon growers' leader, but also for other crimes committed by this criminal cell.
He also reported that the Mexican Army (Sedena) and the National Guard have reinforced their presence in the area to ensure the capture of those involved.
Torres Piña also noted that rewards have been reinstated for information leading to the capture of members of the Blancos de Troya gang, although some had already been in effect for several months.
Meanwhile, surveillance continues in Apatzingán. Helicopters flew over the city
Sources: Borderland Beat Archives, Telediario
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
The Federal Government announced that an area containing tons of chemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs was also detected in Culiacán.
A "narco-laboratory" and a concentration area were secured and destroyed in Badiraguato and Culiacán, respectively. Several tons of chemicals used in the production of synthetic drugs were stored. These chemicals were destroyed by members of the Mexican Army, representing a loss of more than 11 billion pesos for criminal groups.
The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) announced through a joint statement that personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense) located a clandestine laboratory and a concentration area of various materials in these municipalities, as part of an operation to detect and combat drug production.
Through ground patrols, part of this strategy, military personnel located an illegal settlement where they seized a total of 28 organic synthesis reactors, 28 distillers, six centrifuges, 42 burners, and 90 LP gas tanks. The site was classified as a clandestine laboratory used by organized crime groups to produce crystal meth.
The official statement emphasized that in these two states, a concentration of materials and chemicals was found, where 36,650 liters and 5 tons (700 kilos) of substances used for the production of methamphetamine were seized, representing a loss to organized crime groups in the amount of 11.623 billion pesos.
Once the agent of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) learned of the materials and chemicals found, military personnel proceeded to destroy them by incineration.
What is a clandestine "narco-laboratory"?
A "narco-laboratory" or clandestine laboratory is an illicit settlement found primarily in mountainous areas and near bodies of water, in this case rivers or wells, used to produce synthetic drugs. Various chemical products are also found there, including acetone, caustic soda, and sodium acetate. Additionally, devices such as organic synthesis reactors, distillers, centrifuges, burners, LP gas tanks, aluminum crushers, drums, pots, and drums, among others, are also found.
Source: Línea Directa
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
A dozen murders have occurred in the Cuauhtémoc region
Following the murder of Fidel Adrián G. O., better known as "El 10," according to the FGE's records. He was identified as the second-in-command of the Gente del Tigre criminal group, which operates in municipalities such as Cuauhtémoc, Nonoava, and surrounding areas. The western region has experienced a period of violence over the past 10 days.
The incident in which "El 10," one of the leaders of the Gente del Tigre criminal group, was wiped out by armed civilians in Nonoava after an armed confrontation, occurred on October 15. González Olivas, 33, died as a result of gunshot wounds on a dirt road leading from Nonoava to Humariza, near the San Judas Tadeo cave.
Following reports of clashes in the region, authorities activated a security plan and immediately implemented a security operation. On the dirt road leading to the town of Humariza, near Rancho Bahuara, they located the following abandoned vehicles.
The following day, Attorney General César Jáuregui Moreno stated that they had confirmation that in a confrontation between civilians last Thursday, October 16, the 10th, a leader of the group known as Gente del Tigre, operating in Cuauhtémoc and Carichí, was killed. The initial information provided by the Attorney General was that the slain individual was close to El 11 or Virolo, leader of the Los Tigres criminal group, which has a significant presence in Cuauhtémoc and the region.
On the same day the violent incidents occurred, the disappearance of Said Molina Villalobos, 51, was reported missing in the same municipality of Nonoava. He had been reported missing on October 15, 2025, and was found dead along with two other people on October 19 on the Guachochi-Parral highway, near Valle Saavedra.
At the same time Molina Villalobos's body was found in Guachochi, on October 17, at the Yepachi police station in the community of Temósachic, a man was found dead inside a GMC 2500 pickup truck with gunshot wounds to the chest and left arm.
Days later, he was identified as Francisco Javier, 36 years old, who hadn’t been reported missing. The discovery was announced by the ministerial authority five days after the body was found.
During the first few minutes of that same Friday, two dead men were located near the community of La Junta, Guerrero municipality, next to whom a threatening message was found. The discovery was made next to the letters "La Junta," according to the report received by the 911 emergency system.
Next to the bodies was a poster with a message addressed to drug users, allegedly signed by a local organized crime group. Security authorities seized the poster as evidence.
After this, a man was murdered on the streets of the Anáhuac police station during the early hours of Sunday, October 19, when armed men aboard at least two vehicles gunned down the unfortunate individual, who remains unknown.
Upon arrival at the scene, the body of a man was confirmed to be lying on the side of a canal. He was described as having a robust build, dark complexion, approximately 1.80 meters tall, between 35 and 40 years old, wearing a white and gray plaid shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.
The victim was found lying supine with various gunshot wounds, mainly to the head. Between 20 and 25 spent shell casings, apparently .223 caliber, were also found at the scene.
He was identified as Arturo E. M., alias El Turi, 40 years old, who had been arrested on 28 February for drug dealing after a search of his home. During the operation carried out in February by the State Investigation Agency, in coordination with Sedena and SSPE, authorities seized a large shipment of narcotics from El Turi's home, including more than half a kilo of marijuana and 11 additional packages of the same drug; a package containing 7.7 grams of crystal meth; and four mobile phones.
During the night of Tuesday, October 22, at approximately 11:39 p.m., Municipal Police officers responded to a report of gunshots in the PRI neighborhood. The call was received through the 911 emergency system, which reported gunshots at a home located at 68th and Tenochtitlán Streets.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers confirmed the discovery of two deceased men with gunshot wounds, and proceeded to secure the premises. At the same location, officers located an injured woman, who was taken by emergency personnel to the hospital for medical attention, suffering from gunshot wounds.
On October 23, authorities received an emergency report alerting them to the discovery of a lifeless body on the highway that connects Cuauhtémoc with La Junta, very close to the community known as Casa Colorada. According to municipal police, the victim was found face down, on the side of the asphalt, near the entrance to the road that leads to a shooting range. The discovery prompted an immediate mobilization of security forces to secure the area and gather evidence.
The following day, the Western District Attorney's Office, in coordination with Mexican Army personnel, traveled to the town of San Francisco de Borja, where they reported the presence of armed individuals, gunshots, and the burning of homes on the night of Thursday, October 23. Upon arriving at the town, the investigating officers discovered two homes with significant fire damage, with no injuries or deaths found.
Meanwhile, on the night of Friday, October 24, two young men were shot and killed in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood of Ciudad Cuauhtémoc. According to a police report, they were shot more than 40 times. The police report indicates that the incident occurred this morning on the streets of Parque Urueta and Periférico.
Municipal police officers arrived at the scene as first responders after reports of gunshots and located two dead men.
One of the victims was found inside a black Infinity vehicle, which had multiple bullet holes. The second body was found on the sidewalk next to the car, having allegedly tried to take cover after seeing the attack on the other man.
Hours later, the Western District Attorney's Office confirmed that a burned vehicle and three dead bodies were reported on the highway from San Francisco de Borja to Nonoava. The bodies were found on the afternoon of Friday, October 24, on the highway from San Francisco de Borja to Nonoava, at kilometer 31.
Investigative personnel from the Western District Attorney's Office who responded to the scene reported seeing the unidentified bodies. None of the bodies had any visible characteristics, as they were charred.
Forensic Services personnel seized a KIA SUV at the scene, which was completely damaged by the fire. Several firearm casings, apparently calibers 7.62 x 39 millimeters and .223, were also recovered. The bodies were taken to the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo) for a legal autopsy.
Source: El Heraldo de Chihuahua
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
Miguel Ángel Beltrán was murdered, allegedly by organized crime.
Originally from Durango, Miguel Ángel Beltrán, a journalist, was found dead on the morning of Saturday, October 25, in the town of Río Chico, on the Durango–Mazatlán highway. His body was found wrapped in a blanket, with a message next to it that warned: "For spreading lies about the people of Durango."
Beltrán, 60, was identified this Sunday, October 26, by his son, who reported that he last saw him last Thursday, when they both left for work, but Miguel hadn’t returned home.
The journalist collaborated with various local media outlets such as Contexto and La Voz de Durango, primarily in sports, although he also covered social issues. During his career, he also served as a spokesperson for the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE) in the state.
In recent years, he had moved his work to the digital world, where he maintained a blog and social media accounts. On TikTok, he identified himself as "El Capo" and on Facebook as La Gazzeta Dgo. His most recent published content was reportedly related to an exposé against organized crime.
The murder of Miguel Ángel Beltrán adds to the list of attacks and murders against journalists in Mexico, considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalism.
In November of last year, several journalists who disseminated content through social media, especially on X-rated platforms, were kidnapped. Among them was Javier Llamas, who was later found dead with a similar message next to his body.
According to organizations such as Article 19, multiple attacks against journalists have been documented so far this year, especially in contexts where security issues or local corruption are being investigated.
To date, Durango authorities have not issued an official statement on the case.
Source: El Financiero
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
The Mexican government presented an ambitious criminal intelligence plan that marks a new stage in the national security strategy. According to the first work report of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), headed by Omar García Harfuch, 649 leaders and priority targets of organized crime have been identified, as well as the operation of 78 active criminal organizations in the country.
The document details that, with the new intelligence powers, the SSPC prepared 258 identification files that include general information, background information, areas of operation, relevant links, and other key elements to advance investigations and arrests. In addition, the agency integrated five databases with information on members of various criminal organizations.
The report also reports the detection of six hierarchical, family, and operational networks within criminal groups, although the names of the organizations were not revealed. These actions, according to the text, allowed for a "comprehensive visualization of the configuration of criminal groups and the guidance of strategic interventions" in different regions of the country.
In the financial sphere, the Secretariat conducted 16 risk analyses and seven timelines to track the flow of money used by criminal organizations. These exercises seek to detect economic patterns and links between individuals and legal entities involved in illicit activities.
The agency also conducted seven specialized analyses on the incidence of crime in strategic sectors such as the automotive sector and in border areas in northern and southern Mexico, which allowed for the design of more targeted actions. The products generated include heat maps, travel routes, state diagnostics, and reports from 133 priority municipalities to identify risk factors and relevant actors.
During his recent appearance before the Senate, García Harfuch highlighted that this new intelligence-based strategy has improved the Secretariat's operational effectiveness by 240% compared to the previous year. “Today, investigations are based on evidence, data, and coordination with federal entities, which strengthens response capacity and directly benefits municipalities,” he stated.
With this report, the federal government seeks to consolidate a criminal intelligence system that not only reactivates the pursuit of priority targets but also strengthens institutional coordination to more effectively confront organized crime throughout the country.
Source: Segundo a Segundo
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
Authorities arrest three members of the criminal group "Los Blancos de Troya" after the murder of Bernardo Bravo in Apatzingán.
Federal and state security forces arrested three people, including a woman, identified as operatives of the criminal group "Los Blancos de Troya." They are allegedly responsible for the murder of Bernardo Bravo, who was the leader of the lemon producers in the Apatzingán Valley.
Among those arrested is Héctor "P," an accountant and financial manager for Andrés Sepúlveda, "La Fresa," the leader of the organization, as well as his son-in-law. Both were arrested in Cenobio Moreno.
Meanwhile, in the community of San Juan de los Plátanos, María de Jesús “G,” 49, nicknamed “La Tía,” was captured. She was identified as the communications chief for César Sepúlveda, “El Botox,” another leader of the organization. The State Attorney General's Office is offering 100,000 pesos for information related to this individual.
LINKS TO MAJOR CARTELS
“Los Blancos de Troya” operate as the armed wing of the Los Viagras Cartel, currently allied with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, under the name Cartel Michoacán Nueva Generación.
According to intelligence reports, the murder of Bernardo Bravo was allegedly carried out by members of this criminal group, who carry out extortion and violent operations targeting lemon producers in the region.
BACKGROUND TO THE CRIME
Prior to these arrests, Rigoberto “N,” alias “El Plátano,” was arrested as the alleged mastermind behind the murder. According to authorities, he was in charge of collecting fees from citrus producers in the region.
Bernardo Bravo was deprived of his liberty and subsequently murdered last Sunday in Apatzingán. He was known for his activism and for publicly denouncing the extortion and violence suffered by the lemon sector at the hands of organized crime in Tierra Caliente.
IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY
The murder of an agricultural leader like Bernardo Bravo has generated alarm among local producers and security agencies, highlighting the pressure that criminal groups exert on the regional economy and the need to strengthen surveillance and protection of social leaders in the area.
Sources: El Imparcial, Borderland Beat Archives
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
Members of the SSPC, Defence, Navy, FGR, GN and Public Prosecutor's Office participated in the arrest.
Four members of a criminal cell dedicated to arms and drug smuggling in the region were arrested by federal and state public security officers in the municipality of Matamoros.
Investigative work and intelligence related to arms trafficking, narcotics, and money laundering led to the location of three properties in the municipality of Matamoros that were being used by a criminal cell to store firearms.
Security officers conducted fixed and mobile surveillance, obtaining the necessary evidence and delivering it to a supervisory judge, who issued the search warrants.
With this, security agents deployed simultaneous operations to execute search warrants in the Jesús Vega Sánchez and Moderno neighborhoods, where four alleged members of the criminal cell were arrested, including Juana "N" linked to arms and drug trafficking, as well as money laundering.
In addition, seven firearms, magazines, 150 cartridges of various calibers, a vehicle, a safe, US$20,600, six laptops, six telephone equipment, and various documents were seized.
The detainees were read their legal rights and, along with the seized items, were handed over to the corresponding Public Ministry agent, who will determine their legal status.
Meanwhile, the homes were placed under the custody of the authorities.
Source: El Mañana
"Sol Prendido" for Borderland
The Viagras cartel, founded by the Sierra Santana brothers, is one of the most feared criminal organizations in Michoacán.
Founded by the Sierra Santana brothers in the heart of Michoacán's Tierra Caliente region, the Viagras Cartel is one of the most feared criminal organizations in the country. It has even been classified as a "terrorist" organization by the current United States government.
The Viagras emerged between 2013 and 2014 as a splinter group of Michoacán's self-defense groups, which were born to confront the subjugation and abuses of the Knights Templar Cartel.
Initially, these groups were supported by the federal government to combat the Knights Templar. However, over time, many of these groups evolved into criminal organizations, and the Viagras were no exception.
Their name comes from a nickname related to one of the brothers' excessive use of hair gel, which drew comparisons to the erectile dysfunction pill.
In December 2014, the Viagras took control of the municipality of Apatzingán, sparking a confrontation with the Federal Police on January 6, 2015, which left 10 civilians dead and 21 wounded.
The Sierra Santana brothers, cartel leaders
The Sierra Santana brothers are considered the founders and main leaders of Los Viagras. Nicolás Sierra Santana, "El Gordo" or "El Coruco," has been identified as the cartel's main leader.
However, intelligence reports place Rodolfo Sierra Santana, "La Teresa," as the true leader of the criminal group, and he has maintained a lower profile.
Rodolfo Sierra Santana was identified in a video published in 2013, in which he appears meeting with Servando Gómez Martínez, "La Tuta," the detained leader of Los Caballeros Templarios, for whom he worked as a hitman for his group.
Unofficially, reports indicated his presumed death in an ambush in May 2024, although this information has not been officially confirmed.
Daniel Sierra Santana, known as "El Chaco," was identified as a cartel boss in Tumbiscatío and allegedly died in January 2024 after stepping on a mine, according to local reports.
Juan Carlos Sierra Santana, known as "La Sopa," was identified as a cartel boss in the Bajío region of Michoacán and served as the leader of one of the armed wings of Los Viagras, La Nueva Familia Michoacana. He died in a confrontation with the CJNG in 2019.
Gabino Sierra Santana, known as "El Ingeniero," is currently a fugitive from justice, but was reportedly arrested in security operations in 2018 and 2019.
Key Operators and Leaders of the Viagras Cartel
In addition to the Sierra Santana brothers, founders of the Viagras Cartel, the cartel has a hierarchical structure that includes several key operators and leaders, including Heladio Cisneros Flores, known as "La Sirena," who is presumed to be the actual killer of the self-defense group's founder, Hipólito Mora Chávez. La Sirena is identified as a high-ranking operative linked to the group.
Also identified is César Alejandro Sepúlveda Arellano, known as "El Bótox," leader of the Los Blancos de Troya Cartel, a group that operates as the armed wing of Los Viagras, primarily in Cenobio Moreno, Apatzingán municipality, but which extends its activities to Buenavista and Tepalcatepec.
Iván García Salgado, “El Ratón,” who was identified as his second-in-command and arrested in operations in 2018. Omar Faburrieta Pérez, “El Gordo,” was arrested in operations in 2018 and 2020.
The aforementioned have been key to the cartel's operations, participating in activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, and clashes with other criminal groups.
Territory and Criminal Activities of Los Viagras
Los Viagras operate primarily in the municipalities of Apatzingán, Buenavista, Tepalcatepec, Tumbiscatío, Uruapan, Jacona, Zamora, and Sahuayo, although intelligence reports indicate that their influence also extends to the states of Guerrero and the State of Mexico.
Among the criminal activities they are accused of include drug trafficking, particularly methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin; extortion of agricultural producers, especially lemon producers, and local businesspeople and merchants; as well as murders linked to disputes with other groups aimed at consolidating their power in the region.
The use of minors and women as human shields in confrontations, as well as in roadblocks and demonstrations, has also been reported, in what authorities refer to as the criminal group's "social base."
Alliances and rival cartels of Los Viagras
Los Viagras have established various alliances and rivalries with other criminal groups. Among these alliances are cells operating for them, such as the Nueva Familia Michoacana; the Blancos de Troya; and the Guardia Michoacana. At one point, they belonged to Cárteles Unidos, a group that brought together criminal associations from the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, and Guanajuato to combat the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), with whom they established an alliance in August of last year.
At one time, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was their main rival, with whom they maintained a dispute over criminal operations in several regions and municipalities across Michoacán. However, they are currently allies in the fight against the United Cartels, a group that, in the state, includes the Tepalcatepec Cartel, led by Juan José Farías Álvarez, known as "El Abuelo Farías," and the Reyes Cartel, headed by Alfonso Fernández Magallón, known as "Poncho La Quiringua," and Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, known as "Güicho de Los Reyes" or "El R5."
In addition to the United Cartels, Los Viagras also compete for criminal operations in Apatzingán against the remnants of the Knights Templar Cartel. Although they were initially allies, they currently act as rivals.
Source: Contramuro
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