Mexico’s public safety chief, Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch, posted on X that authorities detained Iván Cazarín Molina, a figure identified by the U.S. Treasury as a key member of the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG). The operation took place in Zapopan, a city in the state of Jalisco, on Tuesday.
Charges and alleged criminal activity
According to the statement released by Harfuch, investigators tied Molina to a range of serious offenses, including homicides, extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, hydrocarbon theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. He is also accused of involvement in the 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco that resulted in the deaths of Army and Federal Police personnel.
U.S. sanctions and cooperation
The United States sanctioned Molina in September 2024 for his role in fuel theft that funded the CJNG. The Treasury Department described him as part of the inner circle of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho.” The sanction prompted an exchange of information between Mexican authorities and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which helped facilitate the arrest.
Seizures and legal process
During the raid, law enforcement seized a vehicle, a firearm and several quantities of illicit drugs. Molina will be transferred to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime Matters (FEMDO), where his case will be processed in accordance with Mexican law.
Broader context of cartel enforcement
The arrest comes just days after the United States announced a sweeping set of sanctions targeting the Los Mayos faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Those measures aim to disrupt the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics into the United States and to curb the hiring of hitmen to eliminate rivals on American soil. Treasury officials identified 21 individuals and 25 entities for sanction, including Ismael Zambada Sicairos, described as the “undisputed head” of Los Mayos.
Mexican officials highlighted the cooperation with U.S. agencies as a key element in combating transnational organized crime. Harfuch emphasized that the arrest demonstrates the government’s commitment to dismantling cartel networks that threaten public safety and national security.
Implications for the region
Zapopan, part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area, has seen a rise in cartel‑related violence over recent years. The capture of a high‑profile figure like Molina is expected to send a deterrent signal to criminal organizations operating in the region. Local residents and business owners have expressed relief, hoping the action will contribute to a safer community.
Authorities have not disclosed whether Molina will face additional charges related to the 2015 helicopter attack, but the statement suggests that the investigation remains ongoing.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
