Mexican special forces have dealt another significant blow to the leadership of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) with the arrest of Audias Flores, alias 'El Jardinero', who was found hiding in a drainage pipe on a ranch in Nayarit. The operation, conducted without a single shot being fired, comes just weeks after the killing of the cartel's previous leader, 'El Mencho'.
Renewed Tactics and World Cup Concerns
The arrest highlights Mexico's renewed focus on high-profile cartel targets as the country prepares to host the World Cup. President Claudia Sheinbaum has pursued a more aggressive security policy since taking office in 2024, with increased drug seizures and arrests. However, experts question whether removing individual kingpins will significantly disrupt cartel operations or drug flows.
'These blows will change the perception of action by the Mexican state, but they will not necessarily affect the operations of the CJNG,' said Armando Vargas, coordinator of the security programme at México Evalua. The fear is that such arrests could fragment criminal organisations, leading to violent infighting among successor groups.
Potential for Violence and Instability
The ongoing war between factions of the Sinaloa cartel, triggered by the betrayal of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences. However, the CJNG has so far avoided a succession battle following El Mencho's death. El Jardinero was considered a possible successor, but reports suggest Juan Carlos Valencia González may have already taken over.
'We're yet to see any fractures in the CJNG, but that is not to say they won't happen,' said Victoria Dittmar, a researcher at Insight Crime. She added that with the World Cup approaching, Mexican authorities likely have a plan to prevent chaos, as criminal groups are motivated by economic interests and would not want to disrupt the influx of visitors.
US authorities celebrated the arrest, which was aided by American intelligence, and may seek extradition. The US has also accused the governor of Sinaloa and other high-level officials of drug trafficking, signalling a shift in focus toward corrupt politicians.
'I think the idea is that after they finish with the kingpins on their wanted list, they're going after politicians,' Dittmar said. 'It's part of this dynamic where, no matter how many operations you do, it's never going to be enough for the US government.'
