* These actions represent a significant advance in clarifying what occurred at the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. This arrest will provide key elements in the investigations.
Minister of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch reported that in the framework of the National Security Strategy and as a result of cabinet and field investigations, José Gregorio “N”, alias “El Lastra” or “Comandante Lastra”, leader of a criminal cell linked to recruitment for the New Generation-Jalisco Cartel (CJNG), was arrested in Mexico City on March 20.
“These actions represent a significant advance in clarifying what occurred at the Izaguirre ranch in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. This arrest will provide key elements in the investigations being carried out by the Federal Attorney General’s Office. The Security Cabinet will continue with the investigations and operational actions to arrest those responsible for what occurred and bring justice to the victims and families who have been affected by these criminal groups,” García Harfuch said.
The Minister of Security noted that José Gregorio “N”, alias “El Lastra” or “Comandante Lastra”, had been identified as the right-hand man of Gonzalo “N”, alias “El Sapo”, one of the regional leaders of the CJNG in Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Nayarit, and was responsible for cartel recruitment during the period from May 2024 to March 2025.
Gregorio “N” had a group of collaborators for cartel recruitment, based on the following characteristics:
* They mainly used social networks to offer fake job opportunities as bait, in addition to using closed groups in which the cartel’s criminal activities are revealed. At least 39 recruitment profiles on different platforms were identified and eliminated.
* Some of these publications referred to job offers for Cuatro Letrass and offered a position as security guards with a payment of 4,000 to 12,000 pesos (US$198 to US$595) per week.
* Those interested were summoned to bus stations from where they were taken to the training center at Rancho Izaguirre.
* Training consisted in the handling of firearms and physical conditioning.
* The recruits, upon arrival at the site, surrendered their belongings and cell phones and were provided with tactical gear and boots.
* The training lasted approximately one month, during which time they remained incommunicado.
* Depending on their skills, recruits were given a position within the cartel. They were also assigned to different states to increase the CJNG’s strength.
* According to the detainee’s testimony, they even killed those who resisted receiving training or attempted to escape from the ranch.
García Harfuch also reported that José Gregorio “N”, alias “El Lastra”, is also identified as the mastermind behind the illegal abduction of two university students in July 2024.
He noted that from September 2024 to date, 49 suspects related to cartel recruitment activities have been arrested, among them José Gregorio “N”, the leader of these operations.
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