Mexican authorities arrest alleged Los Rs leader El R2, Digi Mart USA News: Rafael “N,” alias “El R2,” was detained by members of the Secretariat of the Navy assigned to the Special Naval Operations Unit (UNOPES) and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), with support from the Mexican Army’s Special Forces.
Omar García Harfuch, secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, said on X that the location of “R2” was the result of intelligence work by the National Intelligence Center (CNI) and information shared by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
“He has a valid arrest warrant for qualified homicide issued by the First Criminal Court of Apatzingán, Michoacán, as well as an arrest warrant for extradition purposes to the United States,” said Harfuch, a member of the cabinet of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Authorities identify Rafael “N” as an important generator of violence and leader of “Los Rs,” a cell of the CJNG, which operates in Jalisco and Michoacán. Harfuch said the group is mainly linked to crimes including extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, illegal deprivation of liberty, kidnapping and attacks against authorities.
“Among its extortion victims are businesspeople and avocado producers,” he said.
Harfuch also reported that a confrontation occurred during the operation in which “R2” was wounded and is receiving medical attention. He added that 19 other people were detained along with him.
