On September 25, 2023, the small town of Tinaja de Vargas, in the municipality of Tanhuato, Michoacán, hosted a celebration that was far from an ordinary *quinceañera*.
Heraclio Guerrero Martínez—alias “El Tío Lako,” identified by federal authorities as a regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Michoacán and Jalisco—organized a lavish 15th birthday party for his daughter, Nicole. The event featured nearly a thousand guests, top-tier Regional Mexican musical acts, gifts valued at millions of pesos, and a security detail manned by armed men wearing vests bearing the initials of the “four-letter cartel.” The event lasted more than 17 hours.
Footage of the celebration resurfaced on social media this Wednesday, August 19, just hours after federal forces arrested Marisol “N”—another daughter of “El Tío Lako”—and Lourdes “N,” his romantic partner, alongside ten other CJNG members during an operation in Tanhuato and Ecuandureo. A total of 12 people were detained, according to the Secretariat of National Defense.
The venue was transformed into a fairytale setting. The theme was Cinderella, featuring 3D figures of the character, projections of scenes from the Disney movie, a carousel next to the dance floor, and ceilings, columns, and tables adorned with rose arrangements in shades of purple, pink, and yellow. Nearly a thousand people attended the festivities, according to reports by Quadratín.
The schedule began with a mariachi band at 2:00 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., comedian Teo González took the stage; he was the headline act and the only entertainer on the bill who did not belong to the Regional Mexican music genre. At 6:00 p.m., the snack bar and gift shop opened. At 7:00 p.m., the waltz, the coronation, and the surprise dance took place.
