MEXICO ARRESTS ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF POPULAR MAYOR’S ASSASSINATION
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Agency Report
Mexican authorities have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, whose killing in November 2025 sparked widespread outrage across the country.
Mexico’s Security Secretary, Omar Garcia Harfuch, announced on Thursday that the suspect, identified as Ramon Angel “N,” also known as “R1,” was apprehended after months of intelligence gathering in a joint operation involving police and military special forces.
According to Harfuch, the suspect led an armed criminal cell linked to the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and allegedly orchestrated the killing of Manzo.
Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in the violence-plagued state of Michoacán, was shot dead while spending time with his family during the traditional Day of the Dead celebration.
The cowboy hat-wearing mayor had earned widespread admiration for his outspoken stance against organised crime. He frequently accompanied police officers on security operations and used social media to criticise the country’s security policies, earning a reputation among supporters as a modern-day Robin Hood.
Before his death, Manzo publicly accused President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Michoacán State Government of failing to curb escalating violence in the region.
Announcing the arrest on X, Harfuch said the suspect headed one of the most violent CJNG-affiliated criminal groups operating across several municipalities in Michoacán and neighbouring Jalisco State.
He added that the organisation is allegedly responsible for extortion, drug trafficking and multiple homicides, activities that have significantly affected businesses, farmers and residents in the region.
Authorities said the arrest marks the 31st made in connection with the investigation into Manzo’s assassination.
Mexico has continued to grapple with widespread violence linked to organised crime. According to official figures, more than 130,000 people have been reported missing or forcibly disappeared since the country’s war on drug cartels began in 2006.
AFP
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