Colombia arrests alleged CJNG link sought by U.S.

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Authorities in Colombia arrested Fredy Chacón, known as “El Mexicano,” whom officials describe as an alleged link to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and La Mafia Mexicana. Fico Gutiérrez, the mayor of Medellín, announced the arrest on social media and said Chacón is also wanted by U.S. authorities. The source report does not state the U.S. charge or provide a court finding.

Colombian authorities said the operation seized computers, cellphones, hard drives, USB drives and documents for analysis. They also allege that Chacón paid between $10,000 and $15,000 a month to La Terraza and subdivisions of the Gulf Clan for protection, cargo security and movement through the Aburrá Valley. According to Azteca Noticias, the allegations concern the authorities’ account of his alleged role and payments.

Azteca Noticias reported that the arrest followed a broader regional investigation into networks linked to the CJNG. The source also described an Ecuador operation involving 50 U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Southern Command personnel that authorities said dismantled a CJNG-linked criminal network and led to arrests of its alleged leader and financial manager.

The report further cited an August 2026 operation by Spanish and French authorities in Catalonia, where about 2.5 metric tons of methamphetamine were seized and 13 people were arrested. It said the drugs had traveled from Mexico dissolved in more than 12 tons of vanilla flavoring. Those figures relate to the separate Catalonia operation, not the arrest in Medellín.