The US-born son of the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel's leader was arrested Tuesday, armed with an assault rifle bearing his nickname "El Menchito" and appearing to have had plastic surgery.
The arrest of 25-year-old Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, considered the group's second-in-command, is a blow to a gang that has become public enemy number one after deadly attacks on police and soldiers this year.
The son of Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera was captured in a car in a dawn operation by police and soldiers in Zapopan, a suburb of Jalisco state's capital Guadalajara, "without a shot fired," said National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido.
The younger Oseguera was with his brother-in-law and the pair were armed with four grenades and four assault rifles, including an AR-15 with "El Menchito" (Little Mencho) engraved on one side and on the other the cartel's initials CJNG, the number "02" and the abbreviation "Jr."
Oseguera Gonzalez "was keeping a very low profile to try to go unnoticed, which is why he lacked a security detail during his arrest," Rubido said.
"It's important to note that Oseguera Gonzalez showed signs of recently having undergone a nose operation," he said, before showing photos of the suspect with a bandaged nose.
- 'Important arrest' -
It is the second time that authorities have arrested Oseguera Gonzalez. He was captured in January 2014 but released almost a year later by a judge who cited a lack of evidence.
Rubido said Oseguera Gonzalez regained his Number Two status after leaving jail to reclaim his role as "coordinator" of drug trafficking to the United States and oil thefts.
"It's a very important arrest," said Javier Oliva, security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. "It is without a doubt a blow that can diminish the cartel's strength."
Oseguera Gonzalez was born in California, meaning he has dual US-Mexican citizenship, according to Rubido. His father served nearly three years in prison in the United States in the 1990s for distributing heroin.
The western state of Jalisco is the bastion of the New Generation, which has killed some 30 police officers and soldiers since March and on May 1 downed a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Federal police killed 42 suspected cartel members on a ranch in the neighboring state of Michoacan on May 22.
Authorities say they died in a gunfight, but the National Human Rights Commission is investigating whether abuses were committed after the lopsided death toll raised questions. Only one officer was killed.
- Rising force -
The elder Oseguera is a new challenge to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who had been able to boast about the captures of the leaders of the Sinaloa, Zetas, Gulf and Knights Templar drug cartels since taking office in 2012.
The cartel now has a presence in other regions, while forging ties with criminal organizations in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia, according to the US Treasury Department.
The criminal group was once an armed wing of the feared Sinaloa cartel, fighting turf wars with the Knights Templar gang in Michoacan and the Zetas in other states.
The New Generation became independent after the Sinaloa cartel's regional leader in Jalisco was killed while resisting arrest in 2010.
The US-born son of the powerful Jalisco New Generation drug cartel’s leader was arrested Tuesday, armed with an assault rifle bearing his nickname “El Menchito” and appearing to have had plastic surgery.
The arrest of 25-year-old Ruben Oseguera Gonzalez, considered the group’s second-in-command, is a blow to a gang that has become public enemy number one after deadly attacks on police and soldiers this year.
The son of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera was captured in a car in a dawn operation by police and soldiers in Zapopan, a suburb of Jalisco state’s capital Guadalajara, “without a shot fired,” said National Security Commissioner Monte Alejandro Rubido.
The younger Oseguera was with his brother-in-law and the pair were armed with four grenades and four assault rifles, including an AR-15 with “El Menchito” (Little Mencho) engraved on one side and on the other the cartel’s initials CJNG, the number “02” and the abbreviation “Jr.”
Oseguera Gonzalez “was keeping a very low profile to try to go unnoticed, which is why he lacked a security detail during his arrest,” Rubido said.
“It’s important to note that Oseguera Gonzalez showed signs of recently having undergone a nose operation,” he said, before showing photos of the suspect with a bandaged nose.
– ‘Important arrest’ –
It is the second time that authorities have arrested Oseguera Gonzalez. He was captured in January 2014 but released almost a year later by a judge who cited a lack of evidence.
Rubido said Oseguera Gonzalez regained his Number Two status after leaving jail to reclaim his role as “coordinator” of drug trafficking to the United States and oil thefts.
“It’s a very important arrest,” said Javier Oliva, security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. “It is without a doubt a blow that can diminish the cartel’s strength.”
Oseguera Gonzalez was born in California, meaning he has dual US-Mexican citizenship, according to Rubido. His father served nearly three years in prison in the United States in the 1990s for distributing heroin.
The western state of Jalisco is the bastion of the New Generation, which has killed some 30 police officers and soldiers since March and on May 1 downed a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade.
Federal police killed 42 suspected cartel members on a ranch in the neighboring state of Michoacan on May 22.
Authorities say they died in a gunfight, but the National Human Rights Commission is investigating whether abuses were committed after the lopsided death toll raised questions. Only one officer was killed.
– Rising force –
The elder Oseguera is a new challenge to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who had been able to boast about the captures of the leaders of the Sinaloa, Zetas, Gulf and Knights Templar drug cartels since taking office in 2012.
The cartel now has a presence in other regions, while forging ties with criminal organizations in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia, according to the US Treasury Department.
The criminal group was once an armed wing of the feared Sinaloa cartel, fighting turf wars with the Knights Templar gang in Michoacan and the Zetas in other states.
The New Generation became independent after the Sinaloa cartel’s regional leader in Jalisco was killed while resisting arrest in 2010.
