Mexican authorities capture Jalisco drug cartel leader El Jardinero

Mexican Navy Conducts Special Forces Operation, Arrests Jalisco New Generation Cartel Commander

The Mexican Navy has announced that its special forces have apprehended Audias Flores, also known as “El Jardinero”, a top commander of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). According to officials, the operation was carried out without a single shot being fired. The arrest is believed to be the result of months of surveillance and involved over 500 troops, six helicopters, and several planes.

Flores has an outstanding arrest warrant in Mexico and is also wanted by US authorities for extradition purposes. The US government had offered a reward of $5 million for his capture. As regional commander, Flores was responsible for controlling swaths of CJNG territory along Mexico’s Pacific coast.

In addition to Flores’ arrest, the financial operator of the cartel, Cesar Alejandro “N”, alias “El Guero Conta”, was also apprehended in a joint security operation in Zapopan, central Mexico. The minister stated that “El Guero Conta” is accused of laundering funds and acquiring assets through illicit activities.

The Mexican Navy released a statement describing the operation as being carried out with “surgical precision”. The arrest is seen as a significant blow to the CJNG, which has been plagued by violence and instability in recent years.

Source: Al Jazeera