Mexican forces have arrested Rafael Alvarez, an alleged leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known by the alias "R2", following a fierce gun battle in Zapopan, near Guadalajara. Alvarez, who is suspected of leading the "Los Rs" faction of the CJNG, was wounded during the operation and is currently receiving medical care.
Arrest and Raid Details
The arrest took place on Sunday when armed units cornered Alvarez. Mexican naval forces acted on intelligence provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Officials said 19 other suspects were also detained in the joint raid, which involved agents from Mexico's National Intelligence Center.
Mexico's Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said the heavily armed faction is responsible for a wave of brutality across the region. "This cell is mainly linked to extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, illegal deprivation of liberty, kidnapping and attacks against authorities," he said.
Alleged Crimes and Victims
Harfuch noted that the group's targets included local commerce, confirming that victims included "business owners and avocado producers". Alvarez faces an outstanding domestic arrest warrant for aggravated homicide, as well as a warrant for extradition to the United States. Investigators allege he is connected to the deaths of at least 19 people.
Among the killings was last year's murder of Carlos Manzo, the anti-crime crusader who served as mayor of Uruapan in the avocado heartland of Michoacan.
Background and Context
The CJNG, which controls swathes of Jalisco and Michoacan, was designated a "foreign terrorist organisation" by the United States government in 2025. The syndicate is locked in a turf war with the rival Sinaloa Cartel over trafficking routes into the US.
The arrest follows a series of high-level roundups after the death of CJNG founder Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, who was killed in a military operation in February. Despite the clampdown, kidnapping for ransom remains rampant in gang-controlled territories, with official estimates indicating that roughly 134,000 people are currently missing nationwide and Jalisco recording the highest number of disappearances in the country.
