CJNG Cartel Members Arrested in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Mexico — On October 20, personnel from the Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office arrested six members of a criminal cell of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) operating in Playa del Carmen. Authorities also seized drugs, long and short firearms, and usable cartridges from the suspects.

Investigations indicate that among those detained were one woman and one man from the state of Guanajuato, while the other four individuals are natives of Michoacán.

Criminal Operations and Disputed Territory

Federal intelligence reports identify this CJNG cell as one of the principal generators of violence in the area, and it is currently disputing territory with a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Furthermore, this armed group is also engaged in drug retailing, sicario (hitman) activities, and the collection of "piso" or extortion payments from businesses and industries in this tourist zone of the state.

Identities of the Detainees

The reports reveal that Jonathan López Rico ("El Pedro"), aged 18, and Miriam Sagrero Sánchez ("La Gala"), aged 35, are originally from the state of Guanajuato.

Meanwhile, Pantaleón Martínez Luna ("El H"), aged 41; Gerardo López Casillas ("El Jerry"), aged 52; Lorenzo David Salamanca Chávez ("El Dandy"), aged 30; and Víctor Daniel Martínez Gutiérrez ("El Diablo"), aged 31, are from the state of Michoacán.

Legal Defense and Further Investigations

Consulted security sources indicated that, in an attempt to avoid prison for possession of firearms exclusive to the Mexican Army, the men from Michoacán claimed to belong to a self-defense group.

Federal authorities are not ruling out opening investigations against the four Michoacán natives captured in Quintana Roo in relation to the trafficking and disappearance of foreigners, primarily Colombians. These individuals were reportedly mostly recruited deceptively by the CJNG in the Riviera Maya state and sent to bolster the criminal organization's forces in Michoacán, Jalisco, Colima, Guanajuato, and Mexico City.

Criminal Histories of the Michoacán Detainees

Investigations refer that in the case of "El Dandy," he did belong to the armed group that followed the now-deceased former spokesman for the self-defense groups, José Manuel Mireles Valverde. However, Lorenzo David also worked directly for The Viagras Cartel and subsequently for the CJNG, which was the organization that financed that self-styled "community" cell of José Manuel Mireles.

When Mireles Valverde was detained in the tenancy of La Mira, in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, for federal crimes, "El Dandy" was released because he was a minor, although he had already begun his criminal career.

Later, authorities have a record that Lorenzo David was sent to Quintana Roo by the criminal organization founded and led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho").

Víctor Daniel Martínez is also part of that group sent by the commanders of this criminal army; however, "El Diablo" was trained within the CJNG and was one of the two most bloodthirsty lieutenants, alongside another individual nicknamed "El Tachas," in the criminal group headed by Ángel Chávez Ponce ("El Camaleón").

Profile of CJNG Lieutenant "El Camaleón"

"El Camaleón" is currently a lieutenant of the CJNG and is responsible for multiple attacks on police authorities from all three levels of government and military personnel. He is identified as the alleged murderer of the commissioner of the Guardia Civil in the Pátzcuaro region, Cristal García Hurtado, and her escorts, an act perpetrated on March 18, 2024.

"El Camaleón" is also linked to the murder on January 31, 2019, of the nephew of singer Joan Sebastian, Hugo Figueroa, near Ario de Rosales.

According to federal sources, Ángel Chávez Ponce, also known as "El Camaleón" or "El Colores," was born in La Huacana. He is a plaza chief in the Lacustre region of Pátzcuaro, Ario de Rosales, and adjacent municipalities. He was dedicated to kidnapping and extorting avocado businessmen. A warrant for his arrest, number 1/2019-II, remains active.

In 2020, as head of the armed wing of the "Gente del cerro," a criminal group allied with The Viagras, he was involved in the homicide of an avocado businessman and officials from San Juan Nuevo. In 2017, he participated in the homicide of four elements of the Michoacán Auxiliary Police.

Years earlier, he was also allegedly involved in the murder of Hugo Figueroa, whose body was found lifeless in Michoacán. A shootout broke out at the La Aurora bullring, the singer's nephew was kidnapped, and later murdered.

In 2019, nearly 50 sicarios thwarted the capture of the criminal group after they blocked and set fire to vehicles and houses on the Santa Clara-Opopeo highway in the municipality of Salvador Escalante.

Previous Capture and Release of "El Camaleón"

On April 5 of last year (2024), Ángel Chávez Ponce, "El Camaleón," was detained in the state of Aguascalientes, where the Michoacán Attorney General's Office executed an arrest warrant against him as the alleged person responsible for the kidnapping of a merchant, which occurred in 2014 in the municipality of Uruapan.

According to data in the Investigation File, on June 18, 2014, in the town of Uruapilla, municipality of Morelia, the merchant Hilario A. was deprived of his liberty by several armed individuals, alleged members of a criminal cell. Later, the victim's relatives received a phone call in which a financial demand was made; however, contact with the kidnappers was lost. It was on January 11, 2016, when the victim's remains were located on a property near kilometer 10 of the free highway Pátzcuaro-Uruapan.

In relation to these events, José Francisco "N", Jorge Luis "N", and Gerardo "N" were detained at the time and faced an oral trial, while Ángel Ponce took refuge in various locations within the state. As a result of coordination work with the Secretary of the Navy and the Undersecretariat of Specialized Investigation (SIE), "El Camaleón" was located and captured in Aguascalientes.

Despite the work of the Mexican Navy and the SSP, "El Camaleón" did not remain in prison for even a month, due to the weakness of the case presented before a judge, who weeks later released him. Ángel Ponce joined the list—now frequent—of criminals released for the same reasons with which the Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Unit presented them with weakness before judges, who were also inclined to absolve criminals.

Regarding the other two detained men from Michoacán, their criminal history and which armed group or criminal cell in the service of the CJNG they belong to is already under investigation.