Last Monday, it was announced that Audias Flores Silva—alias “El Jardinero” (The Gardener)—a high-profile member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), had been detained following a special forces operation conducted in Nayarit.
It was Omar García Harfuch himself, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), who confirmed the arrest. According to Harfuch, “El Jardinero” is subject to an active arrest warrant in Mexico and is wanted by U.S. authorities, who are seeking his extradition. Prior to his capture, the U.S. government had offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to his whereabouts.
Notably, Audias Flores Silva was recently sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for spearheading a timeshare fraud ring operating within the state of Nayarit.
This marks the latest action taken by the U.S. government against a man who was considered one of the potential successors to Nemesio Osegura Cervantes—known as “El Mencho”—who was killed by the Mexican Army last February during an operation aimed at capturing him.
U.S. intelligence indicates that Audias Flores employed lieutenants tasked with collecting funds generated by a fraudulent call center located in Nayarit. These individuals have been identified as Oscar Enrique Jiménez Tapia, alias “Tagayas,” and José Luis Gutiérrez Ochoa, alias “Tolin.”
