Nov 9, 5:00 AM
Mexican Forces Arrest Alleged Jalisco Cartel Figure Following Joint Operation
Rafael Alvarez was captured in Zapopan with intelligence assistance from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mexican security forces have arrested Rafael Alvarez, an alleged senior leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during an operation in the western city of Zapopan. Mexican authorities confirmed the arrest on Sunday, stating that the action relied on intelligence supplied by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
Alvarez, known by the alias "R2", is suspected of heading the cartel's "Los Rs" cell. Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that Alvarez sustained injuries during a shootout during the arrest and is receiving medical care. Security forces apprehended 19 other individuals during the raid in the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
According to Garcia Harfuch, Alvarez faces an outstanding Mexican arrest warrant for aggravated homicide as well as a warrant for extradition to the United States. Mexican authorities link Alvarez to the killings of at least 19 people, including the murder last year of Carlos Manzo, who served as mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state. The Security Ministry identified business owners and avocado producers among the targets of extortion carried out by Alvarez's group.
The operation was conducted by units from the Mexican Navy and the National Intelligence Center in coordination with intelligence provided by the DEA. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel operates primarily across the states of Jalisco and Michoacan and competes with the Sinaloa Cartel over drug trafficking routes heading into the United States. The US government designated the organisation a foreign terrorist organisation in 2025.
The detention of Alvarez follows several arrests of high-ranking cartel figures since the death of CJNG founder Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera in a military operation in February. Mexican official figures indicate that approximately 134,000 people are currently listed as missing across the country, with Jalisco recording the highest number of disappearances of any state.
Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com
