In a coordinated effort involving Mexican intelligence agencies and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, authorities arrested Rafael Alvarez—known in the criminal underworld as “R2”—in Zapopan, a suburb of Guadalajara. Alvarez is believed to have headed the CJNG’s “Los Rs” cell, a faction notorious for extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, and attacks on law‑enforcement officers.
Mexican Navy officials confirmed the arrest on Sunday, noting that Alvarez sustained injuries during a shootout with police. He is currently receiving medical care. The operation also yielded 19 additional suspects, many of whom were linked to the same criminal network.
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch highlighted the cell’s impact on local communities, stating that victims of extortion included “business owners and avocado producers.” He also confirmed that Alvarez faces an outstanding arrest warrant for aggravated homicide and a separate extradition warrant to the United States.
Alvarez’s criminal record is extensive. Investigators say he is connected to at least 19 murders, including the 2023 killing of Carlos Manzo, the popular crime‑fighting mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan—a state known for its avocado production. The CJNG, which operates primarily in Jalisco and Michoacan, was designated a “foreign terrorist organization” by the U.S. government in 2025 and is a major rival of the Sinaloa Cartel for drug trafficking routes into the United States.
Following the death of CJNG founder Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera in a February military operation, several top leaders have been apprehended, yet the cartel remains active. Reports continue of kidnappings for ransom in areas where the CJNG and other cartels operate. Mexico’s missing‑persons crisis remains severe, with an estimated 134,000 people believed to be missing nationwide and Jalisco reporting the highest number of disappearances.
Source: Al Jazeera
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