Meth lab dismantled across 11 Puebla sites

Reporting and context

Federal forces dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory spread across 11 locations in Puebla on Thursday, November 5, according to a statement by Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch reported by Infobae México. Harfuch said personnel seized 587 sacks of chemical precursors and 179 items used to manufacture drugs.

The operation involved the Defense Ministry, National Guard, federal Attorney General’s Office through its Criminal Investigation Agency, and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. Army personnel disabled and destroyed the installations, according to the account.

In a separate operation in Sinaloa, Harfuch reported that three alleged members of a criminal cell died after firing at soldiers conducting reconnaissance. He said the soldiers returned fire and seized three long guns, magazines, ammunition and a vehicle. The municipality’s name is rendered as “Novolato” in the source article; the saved report does not clarify that spelling.

Harfuch also said authorities had disabled more than 2,700 clandestine laboratories and methamphetamine production areas during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration. That figure is the secretary’s reported assessment.

The Infobae article separately describes 32 arrests during 38 searches in the State of Mexico and Mexico City. Harfuch said the operations were ordered by Sheinbaum with support from State of Mexico Governor Delfina Gómez. Federal security and intelligence agencies participated alongside state and municipal authorities.

Among those arrested in Ecatepec was Miguel Juárez Pérez, known as “Miky Juárez,” whom authorities described as an alleged leader of a group involved in extortion and drug offenses operating behind a union or pressure-group front. The report also names Hugo Chavarría Pérez, “El Rábano”; Irving Eduardo Chavarría Pérez, “Scarface”; and José Alejandro Manzano García as alleged Los Manzanos members arrested with weapons, ammunition, magazines and drug doses.

In 21 searches in the eastern area, authorities reported 16 arrests, including Luis Humberto Nava Flores, “El Gigan.” They identified him as the alleged leader of Empresa Los Gigan and linked that organization to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The organization is being investigated over alleged extortion, street-level drug sales, arms trafficking, dispossession and killings. The report also says two Nezahualcóyotl municipal police officers were arrested.

Another 15 searches in Chimalhuacán and Ecatepec targeted an organization allegedly led by Luis Gabriel Guzmán Manzano, “El Pollo,” and involved in illegally extracting, transferring, storing and selling liquefied petroleum gas. Authorities reported 12 arrests and the seizure of 178,780 liters of fuel, 24 tanker vehicles, cylinders and storage tanks in that part of the operation.

The article’s overall seizure figures are 111 mobile phones, 52 vehicles, 22 tanker trucks, 20 firearms, ammunition and narcotics. Its tanker figures differ between the operation breakdown and the overall account; the article does not explain the discrepancy. Harfuch said investigations into the alleged criminal structures and their protection networks would continue.