Interpol Red Notice Fugitive Denis Ivziku Operated Drug and Arms Trafficking From Yucatan

Mérida, Yucatán — Denis Ivziku, a suspected drug and arms trafficker with an Interpol red notice, was arrested last Friday in Quintana Roo. Authorities say he operated extensively in Yucatán, using the state as a hub to smuggle drugs and weapons to Canada.

According to investigators, Ivziku owned at least two properties in Yucatán, located in the state’s livestock region. He split his time between Quintana Roo and the Yucatán municipalities of Tizimín and Panabá.

Ivziku allegedly coordinated with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to traffic drugs to Canada, where he was part of a broader criminal network. The port of Progreso and the Caribbean Sea served as key transit routes for shipments to the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and British Columbia. He moved merchandise via containers, cargo ships, and speedboats.

In Quintana Roo, he also operated out of the international airport.

Evidence from 2022 suggested Ivziku was hiding in Mexico, prompting a joint effort by Mexican, Canadian, and U.S. authorities, including the DEA, to locate him.

After his arrest, Ivziku was extradited to Canada to face charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, arms trafficking, extortion, and organized crime.