The Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office has arrested Yovani Uriel, alias “El Gio,” identified as the second-in-command of a Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel cell in the community of Loma de Zempoala, in the municipality of Yuriria. The suspect was a high-priority target for federal and state authorities due to his direct role in fueling violence in the region.
“El Gio” is considered the right-hand man of Leonel, alias “El Gordo de Zempoala,” a regional leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato.
The arrest was carried out by agents from the Criminal Investigation Agency in the aforementioned locality. During the operation, security personnel seized two firearms—restricted for exclusive use by the Armed Forces—along with magazines, live ammunition, a vehicle, and several packages containing a granular substance consistent with crystal meth. Some of the doses were marked with acronyms linked to the criminal organization.
After being handed over to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, a judge ruled the arrest lawful and ordered that Yovani Uriel be formally charged for offenses under the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives and the General Health Law. The judge ordered mandatory pretrial detention and set a specific timeframe for the conclusion of the supplementary investigation.
Authorities confirmed that these actions were part of a series of coordinated tactical operations across the state, which also included the capture of three individuals in the municipality of Villagrán:
Seizure of hydrocarbons: In the Caracol neighborhood, state agents apprehended Alfredo and Adrián, who were in possession of containers holding approximately 2,500 liters of suspected illicit fuel, as well as several smaller jugs and a motorcycle. The case file was referred to the federal prosecutor’s office for the investigation of crimes related to hydrocarbons.
Arrest of “El Peluchín”: In the community of Los Ángeles, agents from the AIC (Criminal
Investigation Agency) apprehended Alonso Daniel, alias “El Peluchín,” after he was observed throwing metal objects—known as “tire-puncturing devices”—from a moving vehicle. At the time of the arrest, authorities seized a firearm, magazines, ammunition, three bags containing crystal methamphetamine, and ten tire-puncturing devices. He has been formally charged with drug-related offenses, the carrying of restricted weaponry, and the possession of prohibited weapons; consequently, he will remain in pretrial detention while the criminal case proceeds.
