Ernesto Rafael “N”—alias “Sierra 1″—was arrested after being identified as the alleged leader of the Altozano Cartel and linked to the extortion of merchants, loggers, and business owners in the city of Morelia, Michoacán.
His arrest was carried out by agents from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), in coordination with the Mexican Army, the National Guard (GN), and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), during a raid on a property in a gated community in southeastern Morelia.
During the operation, authorities discovered firearms restricted for exclusive use by the Armed Forces, as well as various quantities of narcotics. Ernesto Rafael “N” was arrested alongside his romantic partner; both will face charges regarding their alleged involvement in drug-related offenses and violations of the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives.
Omar García Harfuch, head of the SSPC, stated that “Sierra 1” is considered a priority target and a primary driver of violence in Morelia, with links to extortion, homicide, and kidnapping.
