Raid on CJNG Stronghold Yields Weapons, Vehicles, and Narcotics Haul

Elements of the National Defense Secretary (Sedena) received reports about the presence of armed individuals in the municipality of Ixtlahuacán del Río, Jalisco, which resulted in a search that yielded the confiscation of the premises, several vehicles, drugs, as well as clothing related to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

The official report states that the Army members were alerted of the possible presence of armed subjects, so the troops moved to an area where they saw an armed man whom they could not detain. According to the authorities, the events occurred in the San Antonio de los Vazquez locality on Tuesday, December 26th.

However, in the property accessed by the subject, there was a long gun, so the site was searched. In the place, there was a car, two motorcycles, as well as a long gun, another shotgun-type weapon, five magazines, 15 cartridges, and tactical vests. Among the objects, there was also “a plastic device with the appearance of a short firearm.”

Regarding the drug, the military found two bags containing possible marijuana, as well as more than 700 doses of possible methamphetamine and almost 100 doses of possible cocaine. In one of the images shared by the authorities, a piece of cloth with the initials CJNG can be seen, which leads to the assumption that the site would be related to the criminal group.

“The premises and the insurance were put at the disposal of the Public Ministry of the Federative Republic, who will continue with the corresponding investigation folder for the crime of illegal possession of wildlife and whatever results.”

Although wild fauna is mentioned in the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) statement, no reference is made to the seizure of an animal.

However, in another official report, also dated the same day, there is talk of securing wildlife specimens in another property located in Ixtlahuacán del Río, although this time in the locality of Las Trancas.

However, according to the reports of the authorities, there would be two separate raids. At the site where the animals were secured, there was a tiger cub, a jaguar, and five bags of marijuana. In addition, the site where the species were found was discovered by elements of the Mexican Army while conducting patrols on a dirt road and not from reports by armed individuals.

It should be noted that the municipality of Ixtlahuacán del Río is a municipality in which, according to reports from Proceso, a subject known as El Doble R operates, a man identified as an alleged regional leader of the CJNG, an organization led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, El Mencho.

Furthermore, an investigation conducted by the media focused on drug trafficking, Borderland Beat (Mica), revealed at the beginning of 2023 that allegedly El Doble R would be the owner of at least two ranches in the Jalisco municipality of Ixtlahuacán del Río.

In other actions related to the four-letter cartel, on December 25th, Juan Carlos “P,” alias El CR, was linked to a trial for the third time and investigated for different crimes, such as the disappearance of people, organized crime, rape and carrying military-exclusive firearms, as well as allegedly being related to the disappearance of Colonel Jose Isidro Grimaldo, whose whereabouts has been unknown since December 2022.

In the most recent actions, the Jalisco Prosecutor’s Office reported that El CR will remain confined. Currently, Juan Carlos “P” is locked up in the maximum security prison of Altiplano in the State of Mexico.