Suspected Santa Rosa gang leader arrested in Guanajuato

A man believed to be a leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato was apprehended last week for a second time, state officials said.

Juan Elías “El Metra,” 26, was arrested after a car chase in Celaya in which his vehicle struck a house. He tried to evade capture on foot, but was soon arrested.

Authorities believe “El Metra” is among the senior leaders of the cartel, operating mainly in the municipalities of Celaya, Apaseo and Villagrán and was considered a priority target in dismantling the Santa Rosa de Lima organization.

He faces four charges of homicide, including that of a minor, while the state Attorney General’s Office is investigating his involvement in several homicides and other crimes.

“El Metra” was arrested last year but was admitted to Celaya General Hospital after complaining of feeling ill. Armed civilians forced their way into the hospital and set him free.

Source: Milenio (sp)

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Manzanillo, Colima, México, 13 de marzo de 2026. La doctora Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, presidenta Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos en conferencia de prensa matutina, “Conferencia del Pueblo” desde Colima. La acompañan Indira Vizcaíno Silva, gobernadora Constitucional del Estado de Colima; Omar García Harfuch, secretario de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC); Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, secretario de Marina (Semar); Bulmaro Juárez Pérez, divulgador de lenguas originarias, presentador de la sección “Suave Patria”; Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, secretario de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena); Jesús Antonio Esteva Medina, secretario de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes; Bryant Alejandro García Ramírez, fiscal general del Estado de Colima; Fabián Ricardo Gómez Calcáneo; Rocío Bárcena Molina, subsecretaria de Desarrollo Democrático, Participación Social y Asuntos Religiosos de la Secretaría de Gobernación; Efraín Morales López, director general de la Comisión Nacional del Agua (Conagua); Marcela Figueroa Franco, secretaria ejecutiva del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública (SESNSP) y Guillermo Briseño Lobera, comandante de la Guardia Nacional (GN). Foto: Saúl López / Presidencia

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