Mexican security forces killing of Cártel Nuevo Imperio leader Édgar Aarón Vázquez Alvarado, Digi Mart USA News (Naucalpan, Mexico): Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch closed a recent statement about an operation with the phrase “No olvidamos a Milton” (“We have not forgotten Milton”). He was referring to Milton Morales Figueroa, head of intelligence for the Mexico City police, who was killed on July 21, 2024, in Coacalco, State of Mexico.
His death was a blow to the country’s security institutions.
The operation. On November 5, federal agents carried out an operation in Lomas Verdes, Naucalpan, to execute an arrest warrant for organized crime against Édgar Aarón Vázquez Alvarado, known as El General or El Lic. According to official information, agents were attacked with gunfire and returned fire.
Vázquez Alvarado and another person died in the confrontation.
The Cártel Nuevo Imperio. Authorities identified El General as a founder of this criminal organization, created in 2017 together with Óscar Antonio García Alvarado, known as El 300, who is currently in prison. Its operations reportedly covered the State of Mexico, Morelos and Mexico City.
He was under investigation for kidnapping, extortion, homicide, property seizure, fuel theft, money laundering and drug trafficking to the United States and Canada.
On November 19, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Vázquez Alvarado for supporting Canadian Ryan James Wedding, a former Olympic athlete whom U.S.
authorities describe as a leader of an international drug trafficking organization. Washington said El General provided protection for him in Mexico and used police contacts to locate targets.
The Treasury also sanctioned three Mexican companies linked to him. The structure combined violence, business and protection networks.
Intelligence and memory. According to Mexican investigations, Vázquez Alvarado was the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Milton Morales, a close collaborator of García Harfuch. The operation involved the SSPC, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the FGR and the National Intelligence Center, in coordination with security and prosecution authorities of Mexico City and the State of Mexico.
The suspect’s death does not mean the case is closed. Other members of the organization still need to be identified, arrested and brought to justice.
Last week, the author discussed the secretary’s message with security specialist Alexei Chévez Silveti, who responded: “He does not forget and never forgives. That is how it should be!” In a state governed by law, not forgetting means investigating until crimes are clarified and those responsible are brought to justice, never acting out of revenge.
Where there is a functioning state, institutional memory becomes justice and impunity ceases to be an option.
Strategic agenda. The Mexican Defense Ministry reported this Sunday that special Army and National Guard forces arrested Gerardo N, known as Pocha, alleged plaza boss of the Cártel del Noreste, and his son, known as Nazi, in Nuevo Laredo. The operation resulted from military intelligence and information exchange with the United States, in coordination with the FGR.
Pocha has a U.S. arrest warrant for conspiracy and drug trafficking.
The arrests are another result of bilateral cooperation against organized crime.
