Major Arrest of CJNG Leader 'El Jardinero' in Mexico
Significant Capture of a Cartel Leader
Audias Flores Silva, infamously known as “El Jardinero,” has been apprehended in northwestern Mexico, delivering a substantial setback to the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Mexican officials confirmed his capture in Nayarit, executed by special forces from the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR). Security Minister Omar García Harfuch stated that the arrest was made under a Mexican warrant and in response to US charges, highlighting that Flores Silva is also sought for extradition. “He’s also wanted by US authorities… The US government had offered a $5 million reward for his capture,” Harfuch remarked. The US Treasury had previously designated him as a “significant foreign narcotics trafficker,” and a US grand jury has charged him with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin.
This arrest follows closely on the heels of the death of CJNG leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” who was killed in a military operation in Jalisco just two months prior. His demise sparked a wave of violence throughout Mexico, resulting in over 70 fatalities, including 25 members of the National Guard.
Carlos Olivo, a former official with the US Drug Enforcement Administration, emphasized the importance of this arrest, stating, “He’s a significant figure,” and noted that it “will have a bigger effect on CJNG operations than Mencho being taken out.”
Understanding El Jardinero
At 31 years old, Flores Silva hails from Huetamo in Michoacán and was regarded as one of the top commanders within the CJNG. Initially, he served as the head of security for El Mencho before assuming control over crucial cartel operations spanning Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Michoacán, and Guerrero. Authorities report that he managed methamphetamine production facilities, oversaw aircraft operations, and coordinated clandestine airstrips utilized for drug trafficking along Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Following the death of El Mencho, security analysts had identified him as a likely successor.
Flores Silva had previously been arrested in 2016 for his alleged role in a 2015 ambush against police in Soyatlán, Jalisco, but he was later released.