Recent Developments in Cartel Activity
A significant shift has occurred within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), following the recent arrest of Audias Flores Silva, better known as “El Jardinero” (The Gardener). His capture took place in northwestern Mexico, marking a substantial setback for the cartel, especially after the death of their notorious leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho.”
The Background of the Arrest
Authorities reported that Flores Silva was apprehended during a military operation conducted by Mexico’s Navy special forces. This arrest comes just two months after the military operation that resulted in the death of Oseguera Cervantes in the state of Jalisco.
Originally hailing from Huetamo in the state of Michoacán, Flores Silva had a significant role within the organization. He started as the security chief for “El Mencho” and later took charge of cartel operations across multiple states including Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas, Michoacán, and Guerrero. His responsibilities encompassed overseeing various methamphetamine laboratories and managing clandestine airstrips used for drug trafficking.
There were speculations that following “El Mencho”‘s demise, Flores Silva might step into a leadership position within the CJNG. The U.S. State Department recognized his importance by offering a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
This is not Flores Silva’s first brush with the law; he was previously arrested in 2016 in connection with an ambush against police officers in Soyatlán, Jalisco, though he was released later.
Oseguera Cervantes’s death on February 22 during a military operation initiated a surge of violence, resulting in over 70 fatalities across around twenty states, with 25 of those being members of the Mexican National Guard.
