Mexico's army arrested Noel Salgueiro Nevarez, alias "El Flaco," accused of heading the Gente Nueva, an armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Authorities said that Salgueiro was captured in Culiacan, capital of Sinaloa state, without a shot being exchanged. In 2010, Mexico’s government offered a reward of three million pesos (approximately $220,000) for information leading to his capture.
The Gente Nueva had been deployed by the Sinaloa Cartel to fight for control of Ciudad Juarez, on the U.S. border. Much of the violence that has afflicted the city in recent years is a result of battles between Gente Nueva and La Linea, which worked on behalf the Juarez Cartel, also known as the Carillo Fuentes Organization.
State Attorney General Carlos Manuel Salas predicted the arrest could result in increased violence during a period of readjustment for criminal actors in Chihuahua, where Juarez is located, especially in the south, where Salgueiro allegedly directed Sinaloa operations.
Meanwhile, federal forces captured Martin Rosales Magana, alias "El Terry," a high ranking member of the Familia Michoacana, in Mexico State.
Mexico’s Public Security Ministry said that Magana was one of the early members of the group, and rose through the ranks of the cartel under Jose de Jesus Mendez, alias "El Chango," who was captured in June.
He was allegedly responsible for recruiting and training new members and managing methamphetamine labs.
At a press conference, the regional commissioner of Mexico’s federal police, Facundo Rosas, declared that the Familia had been weakened. He also suggested that the detention of Rosales indicated that the supposed alliance between the Zetas and a faction of the Familia led by Mendez had failed.
SUBSCRIBE