Thursday, October 23, 2025

Santa Rosa cartel operator ‘La Chola’ gets 40 years

A woman who belonged to the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel has been sentenced in Guanajuato to 40 years in prison for sedition and aggravated attempted homicide and was fined 1.6 million pesos (US $80,000).

In addition to attacking a public servant, Mariela Josefina “La Chola” Ruiz López organized roadblocks on highways and streets that prevented police from entering the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima during their hunt for the leader of the cartel, prosecutors said.

She also coordinated the payment of people who participated in the blockades, they said.

Ruiz was arrested in March 2019 along with the alleged financial chief for the cartel’s former leader, José Antonio “El Marro” Yépez Ortiz, and a federal police intelligence officer.

The Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel has gone through big changes since Ruiz’s arrest: In August, Yépez was arrested by federal and Guanajuato authorities and awaits trial.

In October, authorities arrested his successor, Adán “El Azul” Ochoa, who has been accused of ordering the murder of Jesús Tinajero, a mayoral candidate in the Guanajuato municipality of Jerécuaro who was killed and and body left dismembered on a highway on October 8 with a note signed by “El Azul”.

Sources: El Universal (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
As the 2025 rainy season concludes, the Mexico City area's Cutzamala System has reached its highest levels in recent years, exceeding 90% of its capacity.

Drought affects just 7.5% of Mexico after summer of exceptional rainfall

0
Though the percentage could possibly rise now that the rainy season is over, it's still almost four times lower than the percentage figure one year ago.
Zhi Dong Zhang mug shots

Chinese fentanyl kingpin ‘Brother Wang’ recaptured in Cuba after escaping from Mexico

0
According to Milenio, Zhang acted as a "link" between cartels in Mexico and criminal groups in China, where precursor chemicals for the production of fentanyl and other illicit drugs are sourced.
A Lala truck delivering products

Mexican cross-border truckers rush to improve their English to meet Trump mandate  

3
Despite the hardline enforcement, most drivers seem to be OK with the need for proficiency in English. But learning it is no simple task. Is AI help on the way?
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity