Oaxaca arrests two suspects in Elvis Guerra attack inquiry

Oaxaca prosecutors arrested a man and a woman on extortion warrants in an investigation into the September 18 shooting at textile artisan Elvis Guerra’s home in Juchitán de Zaragoza, according to Infobae México.

The suspects, identified as E.B.P., known as “Bolán,” and G.C.L., are alleged members of Los Cromos. Prosecutors describe the group as a Jalisco New Generation Cartel cell operating in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Investigators suspect Bolán of firing at Guerra’s facade from a motorcycle.

Infobae México reported that Bolán was arrested in Chiapas in coordination with that state’s prosecutors, with Oaxaca authorities arranging his transfer before a judge. State investigators arrested G.C.L. on Reforma Street in Juchitán’s Segunda Sección. Investigators recovered three items of ballistic evidence at the home in Enrique Jiménez alley, in the Novena Sección.

Guerra helped embroider the dress President Claudia Sheinbaum wore for the September 15 Grito de Independencia ceremony. Infobae credited Thelma Islas Lagunas and Crystel S. Martínez Torres with its design, Guerra and three other artisans with embroidery, and Saúl Mosqueda with making the garment. After the attack, Guerra used Instagram to appeal to Sheinbaum for help over repeated threats and extortion.

The report also described a May 27 threatening sign demanding a 60,000-peso bank transfer and signed “Cromo,” citing the investigation file. Governor Salomón Jara said on September 19 that he had ordered an urgent investigation.

The two arrests followed the capture in Guadalajara of Iván Sánchez Santiago, known as “El Cromo,” whom authorities identify as the group’s leader. Infobae said he faced three aggravated-homicide arrest warrants involving four victims in incidents in 2018, 2020 and 2024. Authorities had offered a reward of up to 2 million pesos. He was transferred to Mexico City and handed to federal organized-crime prosecutors.

Investigators accuse Los Cromos of retail drug dealing, extortion, protection rackets, homicide and kidnapping. The outlet reported alleged links to former Juchitán mayor Miguel Sánchez Altamirano, known as “El Quetu.” He and Carlos Alberto de la Paz López, known as “La Parka,” were arrested on September 23 during Operation Enjambre. On September 29, a judge ordered criminal proceedings against them for aggravated extortion and offenses against state security; both remained in federal pretrial detention, Infobae reported.

Original reporting: Infobae México.