Audias Flores, also known as "El Jardinero," a top commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was arrested by Mexican special forces in the western state of Nayarit. The operation involved over 500 troops and took place near the resort city of Puerto Vallarta.
Key Takeaways
Mexican security forces arrested Audias Flores, a top commander of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), known as El Jardinero, after finding him hiding in a drainage ditch. The operation involved over 500 troops and took place near Puerto Vallarta.
According to Mexico's navy, Flores was found hiding in a drainage ditch after security forces closed in on him. Unlike his predecessor, Nemesio Oseguera, alias "El Mencho," who died from wounds sustained during a gun battle, Flores did not put up a fight. He was protected by about 30 pickup trucks and more than 60 gunmen when special forces surrounded a cabin in El Mirador.
The operation was carried out with surgical precision without a single shot being fired, as stated by the navy. A video shared by the navy showed helicopters hovering above a cabin and armed officers closing in on a large cement drainage pipe from which Flores's legs can be seen protruding.
Flores is wanted for extradition by U.S. authorities, who had offered a $5 million reward for his arrest. He faces charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin. Mexican security minister Omar García Harfuch confirmed that Flores was arrested based on both a Mexican warrant and U.S. charges.
The arrest is seen as a major blow to CJNG operations, potentially more impactful than El Mencho's death. The operation was supported by intelligence provided by U.S. authorities. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch praised the women and men of Mexico's Navy for their bravery, discipline, and dedication in this operation.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has warned against unauthorized U.S. operations in Mexico following the deaths of two CIA agents earlier this month. She emphasized the importance of coordination and respect for sovereignty between the two countries as they prepare to co-host the FIFA World Cup this summer alongside the U.S. and Canada.
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