Mexican authorities have apprehended a suspected high-ranking leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), dealing a significant blow to one of the nation’s most dominant criminal organizations.
Rafael Alvarez, known by the alias “R2” and accused of commanding the cartel’s “Los Rs” cell, was taken into custody on Sunday in Zapopan, part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area. The operation was executed by the Mexican Navy acting on intelligence provided by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that the cell is primarily linked to extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, and attacks against security forces. He noted that victims of the group’s extortion schemes included business owners and avocado producers in the region.
Harfuch reported via social media that Alvarez sustained injuries during a firefight that erupted during the arrest and is currently receiving medical attention. The suspect faces an outstanding Mexican warrant for aggravated homicide and a separate request for extradition to the United States.
Investigators link Alvarez to the killings of at least 19 individuals, including the 2025 murder of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state, who was recognized for his efforts to combat organized crime in the heart of the country’s avocado-producing region.
The CJNG, which maintains a strong presence in Jalisco and Michoacan, was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 2025. The group is notorious for its violent tactics and direct confrontations with authorities, competing fiercely with the Sinaloa Cartel for control of drug smuggling routes into the U.S.
Since the death of CJNG founder Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera in a military operation this past February, security forces have detained several of the organization’s top commanders. However, kidnappings for ransom persist in areas where the cartels remain active.
Mexico continues to grapple with a staggering humanitarian crisis; an estimated 134,000 people are missing nationwide, with Jalisco recording the highest number of disappearances of any state.
