Mexican authorities detained 14 suspected criminals linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Veracruz and freed a kidnapped person. The operation stemmed from a January 9 complaint and involved searches in several municipalities. Weapons, drugs, and vehicles were seized in the coordinated effort.
Mexican security authorities announced on Saturday the detention of 14 suspected criminals and the release of one person in Veracruz, following 13 searches in homes in the municipalities of Veracruz and Boca del Río. The action arose from a citizen complaint of illegal deprivation of liberty on January 9.
Among the detained are nine men and five women, including Israel “N,” identified as the regional operational leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). During the searches, five long weapons, four short weapons, six grenades, 19 magazines, 544 useful cartridges, nine ballistic vests, various doses of drugs, ten vehicles, and 16 motorcycles were seized.
The operation was led by agents from the Navy, the Attorney General's Office (FGR), and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), in coordination with the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA), the National Guard, and Veracruz state forces. The freed person was located in one of the intervened properties.
The detained individuals and seized items were placed at the disposal of the Public Ministry to determine their legal status. Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, reported on social media about the detention of violence generators to strengthen population security.
These events occur amid persistent violence in Veracruz, which recorded ten kidnappings in November, ranking third nationally according to the civil association Alto al Secuestro, behind Sinaloa (12) and the State of Mexico (11). In Mexico, 2,305 kidnappings were estimated from October 2024 to November 2025, averaging 5.4 daily.
