Mexican military captures top Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader

Mexican military forces have captured Audias Flores Silva, a senior leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in the state of Nayarit.

The arrest took place near the community of El Mirador, where Flores Silva was found hiding in a roadside ditch.

Flores Silva, also known by several aliases including "El Jardinero" and "Comandante," was considered a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias "El Mencho," the cartel's leader who was killed in a military operation in February 2026.

The United States had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.

No casualties were reported during the arrest, which was conducted without shots being fired.

The operation involved Mexican navy forces and was supported by aerial intelligence from US authorities.

The killing of "El Mencho" earlier this year had triggered a surge in cartel-related violence, including attacks on businesses, vehicle burnings, and road blockades, resulting in over 70 deaths, among them 25 National Guard members.

Flores Silva was reportedly the head of security for "El Mencho" and played a key role in the cartel's drug production and trafficking operations across several Mexican states.

The capture of Flores Silva represents a significant setback for the CJNG, which is regarded as Mexico's most powerful criminal enterprise.

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