MEXICO CITY.- Mexican authorities stopped this wednesday in Culiacana six people allegedly linked to the Los Chapitos factionwhile one more, considered the leader of the group, lost his life during the operation.
“In Culiacán, Sinaloa, in a strategic operation by the Secretariats of Security of Sinaloa and National Defense, they arrested 6 members of a criminal cell linked to homicides, drug trafficking, illegal deprivation of liberty and armed attacks. 8 firearms were seized,” the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, stated on his social networks.
They arrest six people linked to “Los Chapitos”
Official sources indicated that the detainees were identified as José Manuel Álvarez García, alias Mono Canelo; Juan Carlos Dorantes Meza, alias Chango. Javier Guillermo Riveros Díaz, alias Javi; Jesús Manuel Luna Rey, alias Peluchin. Kevin Sarabia Castañeda and Lino Aaron Uriarte Pérez.
All of them, they pointed out, are members of a criminal cell of the Los Chapitos faction and in the operation five long weapons, a submachine gun, two short weapons, 12 magazines, 150 useful cartridges of different calibers and three vehicles were seized.
In Culiacán, #Sinaloain a strategic operation of @sspsinaloa1 y @Defensamx 6 members of a criminal cell linked to homicides, drug trafficking, illegal deprivation of liberty and armed attacks were arrested. 8 firearms were seized.
Among those detained… pic.twitter.com/vtieC1UD7m— Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) October 22, 2025
According to the information, José Manuel Álvarez García was arrested on July 19, 2025 forks responsible for recruit personnel for the dispute which they maintain with Los Mayo cells. As well as executing members of antagonistic groups and identifying addresses related to them to later coordinate attacks. And loot the buildings in search of armored vehicles and weapons that could be useful to their cell.
While at Juan Carlos Dorantes Meza was arrested on December 25, 2024 and is in charge of coordinating hitmen to attack cells and identify safe houses of antagonistic groups related to Los Mayos, he served as the person responsible for the protection and transfer and delivery of weapons to the operational groups of the criminal cell.
The sources stated that during the operation for arrest Luis Ezequiel Rubio Rodríguez lost his lifealias ‘El Morral’, considered the leader of said faction.
Violence in Sinaloa
Sinaloa is considered one of the main production and trafficking centers of synthetic drugs in the country. In particular of fentanyl and methamphetaminessubstances that Mexican cartels export mainly to the United States.
The state is going through a crisis of violence due to the struggle between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos, factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, which has left more than 1,700 people dead, including criminals, police, soldiers, children, women and other collateral victims since September 2024.
Likewise, it is one of the most monitored by the Government of Mexico after the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a terrorist group by the administration of the president of the United States, Donald Trump.
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