Special Forces members from the National Guard (GN) and the Army arrested Edgar Valeriano—alias “Kamoni”—in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán. He was the regional leader of the “Tepalcatepec Cartel,” which operates in the municipalities of Tepalcatepec and Buenavista.
In a statement, the Secretariat of National Defense (Defensa) indicated that the arrested individual is responsible for the production and distribution of synthetic drugs and for the extortion of business owners in the citrus sector.
According to investigations, he is a close associate of Juan José “N”—alias “Abuelo”—the leader of the “Tepalcatepec Cartel” criminal group.
Weapons and ammunition were seized from him at the time of his arrest.
“Kamoni” is subject to a provisional arrest warrant for extradition to the United States on drug trafficking charges.
The U.S. government had offered a $3 million reward for information leading to his capture.
The detainee and the seized items were transported via a Mexican Air Force helicopter and placed at the disposal of the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) in Mexico City to continue investigations and forensic procedures, and to determine his legal status.
