U.S. renews $15 million reward for three Los Mayos leaders

Reporting and context

The U.S. State Department is offering rewards of up to $5 million each for information leading to the arrest or conviction of three alleged Los Mayos faction leaders operating in Baja California. According to Infobae México, the warrants identify Alfonso Arzate García, known as “Aquiles,” René Arzate García, known as “La Rana,” and Juan José Ponce Félix, known as “El Ruso,” for a combined potential reward of $15 million. U.S. officials say the men operate in Tijuana and Mexicali and answer to Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as “Mayito Flaco.”

The announcement followed Treasury sanctions against 21 people and 25 companies tied, according to the agency, to the Sinaloa Cartel’s financial and political network. The Treasury alleged that businesses including a Tijuana-area currency exchange were used in mirror transactions to move suspected drug proceeds from Southern California back into Mexico. Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit said it added 46 individuals and entities to its blocked-persons list after the U.S. designations.

Infobae México reported that the Arzate brothers have been linked by U.S. authorities to drug trafficking activity in the San Diego region since 2011 and that René Arzate faces a superseding federal indictment filed in February 2026. The charges include alleged narcoterrorism, material support for terrorism and trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana; those are allegations in the federal case, not findings established by the reward notice. Ponce Félix has also faced U.S. indictments alleging organized crime, weapons and drug trafficking, and money laundering. The original report is available at https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/09/30/hasta-15-mdd-por-el-aquiles-la-rana-y-el-ruso-eeuu-reitera-recompensas-por-lideres-de-la-mayiza-en-baja-california