Ranch of “El Barbas,” CJNG Leader, Searched in Zitácuaro

Members of the Army, the Michoacán Public Security Secretariat (SSP), the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) seized at least ten vehicles, high-caliber weapons, and ammunition of various calibers on June 20, 2025, at a ranch located in the municipality of Zitácuaro, on Highway 15 toward Morelia. The ranch allegedly belonged to William Edwin Rivera Padilla, alias “El Barbas,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in that region bordering the State of Mexico.

Several of the vehicles seized at the alleged “El Barbas” ranch had signs on the doors bearing the initials of the aforementioned cartel led by Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” and another legend that read: “CJNG Special Forces Zitácuaro.”

“In Zitácuaro, we seized 10 vehicles, 4 grenades, 5 long guns, 525 cartridges, magazines, ballistic vests, tactical equipment, one kilo of cocaine, and one kilo of marijuana during a coordinated operation with the Defense Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and the Michoacán Prosecutor’s Office,” the SSP detailed on its Facebook account.

“In the municipality, we are maintaining the inter-institutional deployment that covers the center, access and exit points to the district, as well as the mountainous area to safeguard the population and maintain order,” the state Public Security Secretariat added.