On Tuesday, November 3, the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) captured Samuel de la Cruz Anaya, alias “El Panda,” in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. He is identified as the alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), with operations spanning the municipalities of Jáltipan, Cosoleacaque, and Minatitlán.
The arrest took place at 1:05 p.m. during an operation coordinated with the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), alongside state and municipal authorities.
“El Panda” was the subject of an arrest warrant for the crime of unlawful deprivation of liberty. He was brought before a local judge, who ordered his transfer to the court in the city of Xalapa.
His capture was part of the “Coatzacoalcos Reinforcement Strategy” (Estrategia Refuerzo Coatzacoalcos)—an operation that has resulted in 163 arrests to date. Of these, 103 are reportedly linked to criminal organizations in southern Veracruz, with an estimated economic impact of 40 million pesos.
An investigation launched in January uncovered “El Panda’s” kidnapping and extortion network.
The investigation that led to this arrest began in January 2026, following the kidnapping of two business owners in the municipality of Cosoleacaque. This is according to official information provided in a joint statement issued by the Secretariat of the Navy, the SSPC, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), the State Attorney General’s Office, and the State Secretariat of Security.
This incident enabled authorities to obtain critical information regarding the activities of a criminal organization operating in the region.
