2 Men and 2 Women Linked to Sinaloa Cartel Arrested in Mexico City, Hundreds of Grams of Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana and Firearms Seized

During the early hours of Jan 23, elements of Mexico's National Guard, Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and Mexico City's Prosecutors Office conducted a joint raid in the boroughs of Iztacalco and Xochimilco that led to the arrest of four individuals linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Mexico City's Secretary of Civilian Protection Pablo Vázquez confirmed on his X social media account that two men and two women were arrested during the joint effort, while officials also seized more than 600 doses of alleged marijuana, 317 doses of cocaine, 100 of methamphetamines and two handguns.

The individuals arrested were identified as Avacu Vera Vargas —who had previous charges for a kidnapping crime in 2002—, María Guadalupe Martínez Herrera, Elva Hernández Villada and José Emiliano Vera Hernández.

According to local media outlets, previous investigations by law enforcement indicated that the group was responsible for selling and distributing drugs in the Iztacalco and Xochimilco boroughs.

Authorities located two properties that were used by the criminal cell as storage and packaging safe houses. The first one was located in the suburb of Agrícola Oriental, where a 27-year-old woman was arrested alongside more than 400 doses of different drugs as well as 500 grams of marijuana in bulk.

The other property was located along the street of Lirio Acuático in the borough of Xochimilco, about 13 miles south of the first property raided by authorities. There, officials confiscated 110 small bags filled with cocaine, 400 grams of cocaine in bulk, two firearms, two cell phones and falsified documents.

Two men and a 43-year-old woman were also apprehended there. Authorities believe this particular criminal cell worked for the Sinaloa cartel.