The Mexican military has captured one of the top leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the country's most powerful criminal enterprise, in a significant blow to the drug trafficking gang.
The Monday capture of Audias Flores Silva, also known as "El Jardinero" or The Gardener, comes two months after the cartel's leader was killed in a dramatic military operation. The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Flores Silva, a regional commander for the CJNG, was captured while hiding in a roadside ditch near the community of El Mirador in the state of Nayarit, Mexican officials confirmed. No casualties or injuries were reported during the arrest, according to the Mexican government.
Flores Silva was regarded as a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," who was killed in a military operation in February. The death of "El Mencho" triggered a surge in cartel violence, including attacks on businesses, vehicle burnings, and road blockades that resulted in over 70 deaths, including 25 National Guard members.
Despite the ensuing violence, Oseguera Cervantes' killing was hailed as a victory for Mexico's government under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has adopted a tougher stance against cartels compared to her predecessors. This crackdown aims to counter threats of intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump, who designated the CJNG and five other Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations in 2025.
Flores Silva's capture represents another blow to the CJNG, which has rapidly become one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the hemisphere. According to Mexican security officials, he served as the head of security for Oseguera Cervantes and oversaw drug production and trafficking operations in the states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Mexico State, and Zacatecas.
Local news outlets in Nayarit reported that several cars and businesses were set ablaze following his arrest. The capture was praised by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson, who described it as an "important step" in combating fentanyl trafficking. "Actions like this strengthen security and help dismantle criminal networks that threaten our communities. Together, we achieve results that make our nations safer," Johnson stated on X.
Flores Silva has a criminal history in the United States, where he served a five-year sentence for drug trafficking before returning to Mexico. In 2016, he was arrested by Mexican authorities for his alleged involvement in an ambush against police in Jalisco but was released three years later. Since 2021, the U.S. has sought his extradition on charges of drug conspiracy and firearms possession.
Mexican security analyst David Saucedo noted that the arrest of Flores Silva is a "significant blow" to the CJNG leadership, which was still reorganizing after the death of its founder on February 22. However, Saucedo cautioned that criminal groups "can quickly reinvent themselves despite the arrest of their leaders" and can "continue" their illicit activities even after major setbacks.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has confirmed the CJNG's presence in 21 of Mexico's 32 states, surpassing the Sinaloa Cartel, which operates in 19 states. Some analysts estimate the CJNG's reach extends to 25 states, with a stronghold in Jalisco. The cartel's operations have also spread to approximately 100 countries, including the United States.
