Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero”, a senior commander of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), during an operation in the western state of Nayarit, Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said on Monday (27 April).
Flores was a regional commander overseeing large stretches of CJNG territory along Mexico’s Pacific coast and was viewed by security analysts as a potential successor to cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera, alias “El Mencho”, who was killed in a security operation in February.
Mexico’s Navy, which led the operation, said security forces surrounded a cabin in El Mirador, about 20 km north of the resort city of Puerto Vallarta, where Flores was protected by dozens of gunmen and vehicles. The Navy said the arrest followed 19 months of surveillance and was carried out without shots being fired.
“The operation was carried out with surgical precision,” it said, adding that Flores was located as he tried to hide after his escorts scattered as a diversion.
U.S. authorities are seeking Flores’ extradition and had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture, Mexican officials said. The U.S. Treasury previously designated Flores as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker, accusing him of overseeing drug production, smuggling routes and distribution networks into the United States.
Calling the arrest “a significant step forward,” U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said it targeted “those who profit from fentanyl and fuel violence,” as Mexico intensifies its campaign against powerful cartels under pressure from Washington.
The capture marks one of the most high‑profile blows to the CJNG since El Mencho’s killing and comes as Mexico’s security strategy faces heightened scrutiny ahead of the country’s co‑hosting of the FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada later this year
Israel said it struck military targets in western and central Iran on Monday, even after U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Min...
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A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 15 people and triggering tsunami warn...
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday (8 June) for a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, receiving a grand welcome...
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The U.S. government has awarded 10 construction contracts worth $4.5 billion to expand border security infrastructure along the southwest border.
Texas has halted new funding for construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, a major policy shift after four years of investment in one of Governor Greg Abbott’s flagship immigration initiatives.
U.S. officials highlighted new barriers and military support at U.S.-Mexico border near San Ysidro, citing a drop in illegal crossings.
Three Venezuelan migrants detained in New Mexico have asked a federal judge to block their potential transfer to Guantanamo Bay, fearing indefinite detention at the U.S. military base. The men, who fled Venezuela seeking asylum, claim their prolonged detention violates U.S. law.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
The Prime Minister's party is in the lead as Armenian media are reporting that the country's Central Election Commission has completed the vote count in the parliamentary elections. An official announcement is still expected.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The results of Armenia’s parliamentary elections will determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone. Here's how it works.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Pyongyang on Monday (8 June) for a rare summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, receiving a grand welcome as he described relations between the two countries as being at a "new historical starting point".
Football fans of all ages gathered in Miami Beach for a World Cup sticker trading event, exchanging duplicates and comparing Panini albums as they prepared for the tournament's opening match.
A city north of Tokyo has suspended classes at all 94 of its primary and middle schools after its first-ever reported bear sighting, amid growing concern over increasing encounters between bears and people across Japan.
A Turkish fishing vessel rescued migrants from a boat in distress in international waters off Malta on Sunday (7 June), after the overcrowded craft capsized in the central Mediterranean.
The leaders of Britain, France and Germany have backed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's proposal to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as efforts to secure a ceasefire continue.
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