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Mexico arrests alleged Jalisco cartel leader “The Tank” accused of fuel smuggling
Коротко
Mexican security forces arrested Ivan Cazarin Molina, known as “El Tanque” (“The Tank”), an alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, in Zapopan, Jalisco, Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in September 2024 over a fuel-theft network, and Mexican authorities link him to homicides, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking. CBS News said he was captured Monday, while Fox News said the arrest took place Tuesday.
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Mexican security forces arrested Ivan Cazarin Molina, known as “El Tanque” (“The Tank”), an alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in the town of Zapopan in Jalisco state, Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said in a social media post. Harfuch said investigations link Molina to homicides, extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, hydrocarbon theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The outlets differed on the timing: CBS News reported Molina was captured on Monday, while Fox News reported the arrest took place on Tuesday. Harfuch posted images of Molina being apprehended by National Guard members and escorted in handcuffs, according to CBS News. Fox News reported that authorities seized a vehicle, a firearm and various drugs during the arrest, citing Harfuch. [ 2 , 3 ]
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Molina in September 2024, saying he was part of the inner circle of “El Mencho”, the Jalisco cartel leader whom CBS News said was later killed in a military operation. The Treasury said at the time that “although primarily involved in fuel theft, El Tanque has also engaged in drug trafficking, extortion, and homicide”, and that his fuel theft “generates tens of millions of dollars per year for himself and CJNG”. U.S. authorities allege he manages a network of ostensibly legitimate retail gas stations where he sells stolen fuel, and that he sells stolen fuel to third parties in Mexico who in turn sell it to the U.S. market, often in Texas, CBS News reported. [ 2 ]
Molina is also accused of involvement in the attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco in 2015 that killed members of the Army and the Federal Police, according to Harfuch’s statement carried by Fox News. Fuel theft, known in Mexico as huachicol, has risen to the second most profitable revenue stream for Mexican cartels behind drug trafficking, according to the U.S. Treasury. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said fuel theft and crude oil smuggling are “cash cows” for CJNG’s “narco-terrorist enterprise”, CBS News reported. [ 2 , 3 ]
Fox News reported that Mexican authorities were in contact with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and that Molina will be placed at the disposal of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime Matters (FEMDO), where his legal situation will be determined. The outlet noted the arrest came roughly a week after the U.S. imposed a sweeping set of sanctions aimed at a Sinaloa cartel network accused of corrupting Mexican officials near the U.S. border. [ 3 ]
Почему это важно
The arrest targets a figure U.S. authorities describe as part of the financing machinery of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, whose stolen fuel is alleged to reach the U.S. market. Fox News reported Mexican authorities were in contact with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, pointing to continued bilateral cooperation on cartel cases. Because the documents give no detail on charges or proceedings beyond his transfer to prosecutors, the longer-term consequences remain open.
Ключевые факты
- Ivan Cazarin Molina, known as “El Tanque” (“The Tank”), was arrested in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Mexican authorities describe Molina as an alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in September 2024, saying he was part of the inner circle of “El Mencho”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He is accused of running a large-scale fuel theft network and of links to homicides, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug trafficking. [ 2 , 3 ]
- U.S. authorities allege he sold stolen fuel to third parties in Mexico who resold it in the U.S. market, often in Texas. [ 2 ]
- He is accused of involvement in a 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco that killed Army and Federal Police members. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Authorities seized a vehicle, a firearm and various drugs during the arrest, according to Harfuch. [ 3 ]
- The outlets differ on the date of the arrest: CBS News reported it took place Monday, Fox News reported Tuesday. [ 2 , 3 ]
Подтверждено несколькими источниками
- Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch announced the arrest of Ivan Cazarin Molina, known as “El Tanque”, in a social media post. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Molina was arrested in Zapopan, in Jalisco state. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Mexican authorities describe him as an alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in September 2024 over alleged ties to the CJNG and fuel theft. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Mexican authorities link him to homicides, extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, hydrocarbon theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. [ 2 , 3 ]
- He is accused of involvement in the 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco that killed Army and Federal Police members. [ 2 , 3 ]
Пока неясно
- Whether Molina was captured on Monday or Tuesday. CBS News reported he was captured on Monday in Zapopan, while Fox News reported the arrest took place on Tuesday; the documents give no further timing detail.
- The fate of Jalisco cartel leader “El Mencho”. CBS News says he was later killed in a military operation, while Fox News only says the U.S. identified Molina as part of El Mencho’s inner circle; the claim appears in a single document.
- What charges Molina will face and whether the United States will seek his transfer. Fox News says he will be placed at the disposal of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime Matters, where his legal situation will be determined; no charges or extradition request are stated in the documents.
- Details from the Reuters report. The Reuters document is a Spanish-language headline only, with no article text or summary, so it adds no specifics beyond the arrest itself.
Что пишут местные СМИ
Хронология, местное время
- Reuters publishes a Spanish-language report on the arrest of “El Tanque”, described as a regional leader of the Jalisco cartel. [ 1 ]
- CBS News reports the arrest, citing Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch and U.S. Treasury statements on fuel theft. [ 2 ]
- Fox News reports the arrest, saying Mexican authorities were in contact with the DEA and that Molina will go to the organized crime prosecutor’s office. [ 3 ]