Thursday, September 18, 2025

Federal forces capture two cartel chieftains in Jalisco

Authorities captured two drug lords this week, one a leader of Los Zetas and the other a godson of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

José Roberto Stolberg Becerra, also known as “La Barbie” and one of the main leaders of Los Zetas la Vieja Escuela (Old School Zetas) was detained in a residential complex in Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, during an operation by federal forces.

Police seized packets of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines ready for sale, along with two vehicles.

According to federal authorities, Stolberg has been an active part of the leadership of Los Zetas la Vieja Escuela since 2016 when the group, together with two other gangs, split off from the main branch of the Zetas cartel, itself notorious for brutal murders, torture and beheadings.

Tamaulipas authorities say the faction has been responsible for a wave of violence in the state in recent years.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Stolberg in June of last year for ties to organized crime and kidnapping. In December, the Attorney General’s Office offered an award of 1.5 million pesos (US $80,000) for information leading to the cartel leader’s capture.

Another Jalisco arrest took place in Zapopan where federal forces captured Adrián Alonso Guerrero Covarrubias, known as “El 8” or “El M,” godson of Jalisco cartel boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes. He was arrested for ties to organized crime and kidnapping.

Authorities told reporters that Guerrero was an important regional leader in his godfather’s cartel, with territorial control in the Ciénega and northern Los Altos regions in Jalisco, along with southeastern Guanajuato. The cartel is one of the most powerful in Mexico and has been responsible for a dramatic increase in violence in several states in recent years.

Source: Milenio (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Diputada Brown

Mexico freezes funds of Morena lawmaker and others targeted by US sanctions

0
In what might be viewed as a case of binational cooperation, the U.S. designated 20 entities as drug traffickers then Mexico promptly froze their assets.
"Conferencia del Pueblo" reads a banner behind President Sheinbaum as she stands at the podium of her morning press conference

Did Mexico hand over druglord Caro Quintero on Trump’s orders? Thursday’s mañanera recapped

0
Narcopolitics, the future of the USMCA free trade deal and AMLO's legacy were topics of note at Sheinbaum's Thursday morning presser.
people evacuating building durin simulacro

What you need to know about Friday’s nationwide disaster drill

0
This year, the annual Sept. 19 earthquake simulation calls for public participation in drills for hurricanes, fires and tsunamis, depending on the region.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity