The Arrest of Nine CJNG Members in Puebla
Nine alleged members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) associated with the notorious “Sweeper Operation” have been linked to the murder and abandonment of five bodies near the Puebla Fairgrounds on April 12, 2025. The local Attorney General’s Office stated that the suspects are currently under informal preventive detention as investigations continue.
Details of the Incident
According to Jorge Alfredo Mena, the general coordinator specialized in homicide investigations, the victims were kidnapped a day prior to their deaths. They were taken to a location in the Infonavit Amalucan neighborhood, where they were executed. The bodies were later found in a vehicle, accompanied by a cardboard message from the “Sweeper Operation,” ominously declaring that “the Puebla Fair will burn in flames.”
The victims included individuals from various regions, including Puebla, Jalisco, and Veracruz, with one of the apprehended being a woman.
The Arrest Process
In April 2025, the prosecution apprehended eight individuals at the scene of the crime, seizing firearms, vehicles, and illicit substances. Raids on identified safe houses in Lomas de Angelópolis led to further arrests. A subsequent arrest warrant yielded another suspect, identified as Axel Daniel “N,” bringing the total number of apprehended individuals to nine by March 19, 2026.
On April 13, 2026, judicial authorities confirmed the connection of the first eight detainees to the crime of qualified homicide. The suspects were identified as:
– Alexander N.
– Michelangelo “N.”
– Adonay Alejandro “N.”
– Israel “N.”
– Irving de Jesús “N.”
– Yaneth Alejandra “N.”
– Juan Manuel “N.”
– José Alfredo “N,” known as “El Willy.”
Axel Daniel “N” is also facing similar charges.
Ongoing Investigations
Investigators used a combination of video analysis, interviews, expert opinions, and digital forensics to establish the sequence of events and link the detainees to the crime. As the case remains in a complementary stage, authorities have indicated that more arrests are possible in the coming months.
Background on the Sweeper Operation
The “Sweeper Operation” is a faction of the CJNG that has been active in Puebla since February 2023. They have been known for their intimidating communications against rival gangs, including threats articulated on narcomantas and videos. Under the leadership of the deceased Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” this faction has asserted dominance through brutal confrontations with local gangs involved in drug trafficking.
Notably, the Sweeper Operation should not be confused with another criminal group in Tabasco also named “The Sweeper.” Despite the similar names, they are distinct entities.
Recent Crimes Attributed to the Sweeper Operation
Recent violence attributed to this faction includes a deadly attack on February 14, 2026, outside the Spite Room bar in Angelópolis, where three young people were killed, and multiple injuries occurred. The attack was reportedly a mistaken assault by CJNG hitmen.
Additionally, a deadly ambush that claimed the lives of three municipal police officers in Huixcolotla in November 2025 sparked significant public outcry and led to the resignation of the entire police department in that locality.
The CJNG’s ongoing activity in Puebla continues to be a significant concern for local authorities and residents alike. With investigations still underway, the implications of these violent incidents reverberate throughout the community.