Harfuch DEA cooperation Mexico cartel arrest El R2, Digi Mart USA News: Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, said actions against drug trafficking on Mexican territory will remain the exclusive responsibility of national authorities after meeting with Terry Cole, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The two officials agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The meeting takes place in a new phase of rapprochement between the government of Claudia Sheinbaum and the U.S. anti-drug agency, which has publicly acknowledged its participation in recent operations against leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Harfuch wrote on his X account that the talks were based on four principles: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared responsibility, mutual respect and trust, and cooperation without subordination.
According to the source, the officials reviewed the exchange of information on criminal structures, financial investigations, pending collaboration requests and extradition matters that must be processed through the appropriate channels. The meeting had been scheduled since late October.
Both sides agreed to strengthen investigations into criminal networks, advance the capture of priority targets, curb the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico and prevent proceeds from drug sales from reaching criminal organizations.
Cole said the DEA will maintain its commitment to provide intelligence information to Mexican partners to identify and dismantle criminal organizations that threaten the security of both countries. The meeting followed by one day the arrest of Rafael Álvarez Ayala, alias El R2, whom Mexican authorities identified as one of the main leaders of Los Rs, a CJNG cell operating in Jalisco and Michoacán.
The suspect was located in Zapopan during an operation led by the Secretariat of the Navy through its Special Naval Operations Unit, in coordination with the Secretariat of Security and with support from Army Special Forces. Nineteen other people were detained.
A shootout occurred during the operation in which El R2 and a naval officer were wounded.
Harfuch said the location resulted from intelligence work by the National Intelligence Center (CNI) and information shared by the DEA, a participation the agency confirmed. The DEA said Álvarez Ayala is wanted in the United States on federal charges related to drug and firearms trafficking.
In Mexico he faces an arrest warrant for qualified homicide and another for extradition purposes. Authorities link him to extortion, kidnapping, homicide, drug trafficking and attacks on security forces.
Among his alleged extortion victims are businesspeople and avocado producers. He has also been named as a possible participant in the homicide of former Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo, although that responsibility must still be proven in the corresponding investigations.
