Mexican authorities have apprehended Iván Cazarín Molina, a high-ranking member of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as ‘The Tank,’ in Zapopan. The arrest, announced by Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch, links Molina to a string of violent crimes including homicides, extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, money laundering, and drug trafficking. Crucially, Molina is also accused of involvement in the deadly 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco, which claimed the lives of soldiers and federal police officers. His alleged role in orchestrating fuel theft operations for the CJNG led to U.S. sanctions in September 2024, identifying him as a key figure within the inner circle of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho.’ The arrest, which resulted in the seizure of a vehicle, firearm, and various drugs, comes amidst increased U.S. efforts to dismantle cartel operations, following recent sanctions against a Sinaloa cartel faction accused of corrupting Mexican officials and operating within U.S. borders. Molina is currently in the custody of Mexico’s Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime Matters (FEMDO), where his legal proceedings will determine his fate.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
