DETENTION OF ABEL CISNEROS SEGURA STRIKES FINANCIAL STRUCTURE OF LOS MEZCALES IN COLIMA

Authorities executed a strategic operation in the Las Parotas neighborhood, located in the municipality of Colima, Colima, Mexico. The joint mission involved the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana of Colima, the Secretaría de Marina, and the local Attorney General's Office. Officers successfully located and detained Abel "N", identified as Abel Cisneros Segura, along with his associate Marcos "N".

According to official reports, Abel "N" operated as a second-in-command logistical and financial manager for Los Mezcales, also known as the Cártel Independiente de Colima. He was responsible for administering resources and coordinating key operations while being recognized as a major generator of violence in the region. Furthermore, he faced an active arrest warrant in Jalisco for qualified homicide. Marcos "N" served as his accountant and legal representative for fuel sales companies linked to the network.

During the intervention, authorities seized the following items:

• - Two long firearms (one carried by each individual)
• - Ammunition matching the weapons
• - Various illicit items

This operation builds upon recent pressure against the organization. In late August, joint forces from the Secretaría de Marina and state prosecutors apprehended Carlos Miguel "N", known as "El Abulón", in Ejido Guadalupe Victoria, Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca. "El Abulón" was also a key second-in-command managing territorial control in Colima.

The primary criminal activities of Los Mezcales encompass homicides, high-impact violence, extortion, and local drug trafficking across Colima, Villa de Álvarez, Tecomán, Armería, and Manzanillo.

Originally a local cell of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación, Los Mezcales broke away in early 2022 due to internal disputes over revenue sharing, drug routes, and extortion control. This split triggered a severe wave of violence across the state, including armed confrontations, targeted killings, and disputes inside correctional facilities.