The federal security strategy achieved a new breakthrough following the arrest of César Alejandro, alias “El Güero Conta,” identified as the principal financial operator for Audias Flores Silva, alias “El Jardinero”—who had been detained just hours earlier in Nayarit. The arrest, confirmed by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch, took place in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco, thereby dismantling a pivotal component of the economic structure of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
César Alejandro is alleged to have carried out the complex task of laundering capital for the criminal organization through a network of companies and proxies. According to official investigations, the suspect managed the acquisition of high-value assets, most notably aircraft, watercraft, luxury residences, and ranches. Furthermore, his involvement as an investor in various tequila production companies was documented; he utilized this legitimate industry in an attempt to conceal the illicit origins of funds derived from drug trafficking.
This arrest comes at a critical juncture for the criminal organization, occurring just two months after the confirmed death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” during a military operation. With the demise of their historic leader, figures such as “El Jardinero”—for whom the United States had offered a $5 million reward—and his close financial operators assumed strategic importance in maintaining territorial control across the Mexican Pacific region, particularly in states such as Nayarit, Jalisco, and Michoacán.
It is worth noting that Audias Flores Silva was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2021 and is designated by the DEA as a high-risk commander responsible for the large-scale trafficking of opioids and cocaine. His recent capture in Nayarit served as the catalyst that enabled authorities to track down his financial mastermind in Zapopan. The capture of “El Jardinero” and the subsequent operations targeting his financial network have triggered a violent response from criminal cells. Reports from various locations across Nayarit describe businesses being set ablaze and vehicles engulfed in flames—a situation that has directly impacted the mobility of residents and tourists in the region.
In light of the lack of security guarantees on the highways, major bus lines have taken drastic measures. The Estrella Blanca Group announced the temporary cancellation of its departures from Puerto Vallarta bound for Tepic, Guadalajara, and Mazatlán. Meanwhile, the company Primera Plus reported the suspension of its services on routes connecting Guadalajara with Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán, urging travelers to stay informed regarding the resumption of scheduled trips as public order conditions return to normal.
