Alejandro and José Luis Cabrera Sarabia: The “Los Mayos” Operatives Behind the Criminal Empire in Durango

At 4:35 PM last Wednesday, June 10, the “murciélagos” landed in Durango. The arrival of ninety Mexican Army Special Forces troops was bolstered by a contingent of 600 personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), all with a single objective: to reinforce security operations within the state and along its transportation routes.

This massive deployment of military personnel is no coincidence; rather, it is an institutional response aimed at curbing the instigators of violence operating in the region. While multiple criminal organizations maintain a presence in various parts of the state, one group stands out—a clan whose roots go back at least three decades, eventually becoming a key asset for the Sinaloa Cartel, and specifically for the “Los Mayos” faction.

This group is the Cabrera Sarabia family clan. Unlike other criminal organizations that chose names based on their place of origin or the word “cartel,” this group adopted the surname of the brothers leading it—men who, years ago, managed to earn the trust of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

Adherents to the teachings of the man also known as *Señor del Sombrero* (Lord of the Hat), the Cabrera Sarabias maintained a low profile. Their discretion and willingness to negotiate with local political figures allowed them to consolidate their influence across much of Durango and even into neighboring states like Chihuahua and Zacatecas. Despite this, their activities soon attracted the attention of authorities on both sides of the border as well as rival groups. This scrutiny led to the downfall of some of their leaders but also paved the way for the rise of the duo that remains at the helm as of this writing: Alejandro and José Luis Cabrera Sarabia.

The Cabrera Sarabias and El Mayo: A Business Relationship

U.S. Treasury Department investigations maintain that, since 1996, the Cabrera Sarabia family has played a pivotal role in Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s drug trafficking organization. Reports identify the Vasco de Gil mountains in Santiago Papasquiaro as the home base of this family clan, which comprises at least six brothers: Felipe, Luis Alberto, José Luis, Alejandro, Juan, and Ramón.

Deeply rooted in the “Golden Triangle”—a region where poppies and marijuana thrive—it was only a matter of time before the Cabrera Sarabia family became involved in drug trafficking. Felipe, better known as “El Inge” (The Engineer) or “El Rey de la Heroína” (The Heroin King), took charge of establishing a key business partnership with “El Mayo” Zambada, who was already emerging as one of the region’s most notorious kingpins.

Details regarding the criminal group’s operations were provided by Vicente Zambada Niebla—son of the Sinaloa Cartel’s co-founder—in a series of letters delivered by his lawyer to investigative journalist Anabel Hernández. In these missives, “El Vicentillo” recounts meeting the Cabrera Sarabia family in 2006 through his father, who already viewed them as potential partners due to their marijuana and poppy cultivation and smuggling operations, as well as their ability to process heroin themselves.

By that time, the Cabrera Sarabia family had already established routes to sell these narcotics not only in Mexico but also in the United States—specifically in Chicago, Illinois. Although the trade was profitable, “El Inge” realized that the real money lay in cocaine, and that was precisely where “El Mayo” Zambada came into the picture. “One day, Felipe told my dad that he had clients in Chicago to whom he sold marijuana; they had always asked him for coke, but he—Felipe—didn’t have a way to send it to them. My dad said yes, that he would send it… The fact is, my dad decided to send cocaine to the United States because he had run out of buyers in Culiacán,” reads the testimony of Vicente Zambada Niebla, as recounted by journalist Anabel Hernández in her book *El Traidor: El diario secreto del hijo del Mayo* (2019).

Through associates such as twins Pedro and Margarito Flores, the Sinaloa Cartel’s cocaine reached Chicago; however, Felipe Cabrera Sarabia’s role went further. His skills as a logistics operator allowed him to spearhead major drug trafficking operations—such as shipping at least six tons of marijuana to the United States hidden in trucks belonging to a poultry company.

“Felipe Cabrera Sarabia was a long-time lieutenant to Zambada García in the Mexican state of Durango, where he controlled vast marijuana and poppy plantations and was responsible for transporting marijuana and heroin to the United States. Additionally, he obtained tons of cocaine from Zambada García and transported it to the United States, specifically to the Chicago, Illinois area,” states the briefing document announcing the U.S. Treasury Department’s designation of the Cabrera Sarabia brothers.

The close relationship between “El Mayo” and “El Inge” was built on trust. The Sinaloa Cartel co-founder not only allowed him to lead major drug trafficking operations, but Felipe Cabrera Sarabia also became one of the few people who knew Ismael Zambada García’s exact location, as he was permitted to hide out at some of his ranches.

In this way, the family clan from Durango became a key cog in the Sinaloa Cartel; however, not everything was the result of “El Inge’s” operations, as some of his brothers were following closely in his footsteps.

The role of the brothers

In March 2015, the Department of the Treasury formally announced the designation of three of the Cabrera Sarabia brothers. Felipe, Alejandro, and José Luis were identified by U.S. authorities as major suppliers of heroin and marijuana to the Sinaloa Cartel in Durango.

“Since 1996, the Cabrera Sarabia brothers have played an important role in Ismael Zambada García’s drug trafficking organization,” the Department of the Treasury stated.

By then, it was clear that “El Inge” was the head of the family clan, yet his brothers also played key roles. For instance, Alejandro—better known as “El 02″—assisted “El Mayo” Zambada in transporting tons of narcotics to the United States via border corridors in Baja California. Meanwhile, José Luis—also known as “El 03″—managed the family ranches and assisted with the logistics of moving marijuana shipments.

This description of the Cabrera Sarabia organizational structure was further detailed by Vicente Zambada Niebla himself following his extradition to the United States; in addition to cooperating with prosecutors, he described the activities of his father’s associates in letters delivered to journalist Anabel Hernández through his lawyer. “Felipe Cabrera Sarabia—known as ‘El Inge’ or ‘El Uno’—was the head of the brothers’ organization. Felipe was primarily responsible for shipping marijuana and heroin to the United States and delivering the merchandise to clients. He was also in charge of purchasing cocaine in Mexico and shipping it to the U.S. for distribution among their customers,” stated El Vicentillo.

The son of Mayo Zambada also identified Alberto Cabrera Sarabia as the person in charge of security for the family clan and its lucrative business—a role he carried out using shock troops and maintaining constant communication with military personnel and law enforcement officers co-opted by the criminal group.

In one part of his testimony, El Vicentillo recalled an incident where “El Arqui”—as he was also known—was tasked with guarding and escorting a shipment of ephedrine that had arrived from Belize for Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. On that occasion, the rivalry with Los Zetas and the Beltrán Leyva Cartel hindered the successful transport of the tanker truck, which was bound for Culiacán.

For his part, José Luis was responsible for managing the ranches whenever Felipe was away, as well as handling marijuana sales and delivery logistics. “El 03” is also credited with building the Cabrera Sarabia family’s social support base; he coordinated communication lines with residents of communities surrounding their operational hubs, ensuring they were alerted to the presence of suspicious individuals or authorities in the area.

Alejandro Cabrera Sarabia was responsible for overseeing the agricultural side of the marijuana and poppy crops. “El 02” was also in charge of heroin production and managed the field workers who harvested the plants. If they needed more product than they could generate themselves, he was also responsible for purchasing it from other producers.

With the brothers each fulfilling the roles necessary to sustain the criminal structure, the Cabrera Sarabias consolidated their power; however, their luck eventually began to run out. 

The Fall of El Inge and the Rise of 02 and 03

“On the 23rd of this month, Mexican Army Special Forces carried out a precision operation in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, resulting in the arrest of FELIPE CABRERA SARABIA, alias ‘El Inge’—a lieutenant to JOAQUÍN GUZMÁN LOERA, alias ‘El Chapo Guzmán,’ and the person responsible for drug trafficking and violence on behalf of the ‘Pacific Cartel’ criminal organization in the state of Durango and southern Chihuahua,” the Secretariat of National Defense announced in December 2011.

“El Inge” faced charges of organized crime, drug-related offenses, possession of firearms reserved for the exclusive use of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and document forgery. These offenses led to his imprisonment in Mexico until his extradition to the United States was finally granted in 2020, prompted by a formal indictment filed against him in a federal court in the Northern District of Illinois.

Just one month after Felipe’s arrest, the Defense Secretariat reported that his brother, Luis Alberto Cabrera Sarabia, had been killed during an armed confrontation between his gunmen and Mexican Army Special Forces personnel.

“LUIS ALBERTO CABRERA SARABIA, alias ‘El Arqui,’ along with his head of security, managed to momentarily evade the initial operation, taking refuge in a cave in the mountainous area near his ranch […] from that position, the criminals continued firing upon military personnel […] faced with their refusal to lay down their arms and their continued attacks on the troops, military personnel continued to repel the aggression until both men were killed,” the Mexican Army detailed regarding the operation.

Although the neutralization of two of the Cabrera Sarabia brothers dealt a severe blow to their organizational structure, Alejandro and José Luis continued to lead operations. News of the first individual’s arrest in Culiacán in 2013 had previously surfaced; however, it was only a matter of time before a series of incidents revealed his return to the ranks of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Currently, “El 02” and “El 03” are identified as leaders of the criminal organization based in Durango. Beyond drug trafficking, their criminal portfolio has diversified into activities such as illegal mining and extortion; furthermore—much like Luis Alberto before them—they maintain armed wings at their disposal to protect both their lucrative enterprises and their territorial influence against encroachment by rivals or law enforcement.

It is precisely these groups of gunmen that have been deployed across various areas of Sinaloa to bolster the forces of “Los Mayos” amidst the conflict ignited against “Los Chapitos” following the betrayal by Joaquín Guzmán López, which ultimately led to Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada falling into the hands of U.S. authorities.

In December 2025, the Security Cabinet announced the arrest of Edgar “N”—better known as “El Limones”—who was identified as a key financial operator for the Cabrera Sarabia family, overseeing a cell involved in making threats and extorting local merchants and cattle ranchers.

The arrest of “El Limones” not only placed this family clan—an ally of “Los Mayos”—under scrutiny but also exposed how, over the years, they have managed to maintain their reach within local politics, labor sectors, and trade unions.

The Cabrera Sarabia family has an extensive criminal history. While “El Inge” continues to serve a sentence in the United States following a plea deal, his brothers “El 02” and “El 03” have kept alive a legacy that not only continues to sow violence in Durango and neighboring states but has also played a pivotal role in reigniting the conflict between “Los Chapitos” and “Los Mayos.” A recent federal operation in the Casa Blanca community of Durango sparked rumors regarding the capture of another high-ranking operative of the Cabrera Sarabia organization; although the arrest was not confirmed, attention remains focused on the arrival of Special Forces and Mexican Army personnel at the criminal group’s stronghold, with the expectation that Alejandro and José Luis’s luck could run out at any moment.

Source: Milenio