Mexican Authorities Arrest Two Cartel Operatives Linked to the Murder Attempt of Top Security Official Garcia Harfuch

Multi-agency operations in Mexico led to the arrests of two men wanted by the U.S. Marshals for drug and firearm trafficking crimes. Both suspects are also linked to the 2020 murder attempt of Omar Garcia Harfuch, Mexico's current top security official and head of the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection (SSPC).

Roland Alberto Muñoz, identified as an associate for the La Línea and Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) cartels, was arrested on March 4 in the state of Chihuahua near a motel along the Chihuahua-Cuauhtémoc highway.

Muñoz was arrested by Mexican authorities and shortly after was put at the disposal of the U.S. Marshals, as he is wanted by American law enforcement due to his role as a prominent smuggler of firearms into Mexico.

As reported by Infobae, further investigations revealed that Muñoz was one of the main suppliers of firearms for the La Linea and CJNG cartels, who operate in the northern state of Chihuahua.

Elsewhere, another multi-agency effort secured the arrest of Roberto Salazar Toledo, alias "El Gordo Jr.," who was captured in the central state of Morelos. Authorities also seized small quantities of drugs during his arrest, including four marijuana doses and small plastic bags containing blue pills.

Harfuch said on his X account that Toledo was the recipiento of an extradition order from the U.S., as he was also wanted by the U.S. Marshals who offered a reward of up to $25,000 for any information leading to his arrest.

Local media reported that El Gordo Jr. is accused by the U.S. government for various crimes, including conspiring with criminal organizations and partaking in the trafficking of cocaine, methamphetamines and heroin.

Although both Muñoz and Salazar are wanted by the U.S. government, reports suggest that the two criminals also have a long list of accusations in Mexico, more concretely related to the murder attempt of Harfuch in 2020, when he served as Secretary of Citizen Security of Mexico City under then-Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum.

Failed murder attempt

On June 26, 2020 Harfuch and two of his security guards were attacked by a group of 20 armed individuals along the popular Paseo de la Reforma road when he was making his way to his office in Mexico City.

Although Harfuch did not suffer any injuries, three people died during the attack that saw more than 400 bullets being fired at his vehicle.

Both Muñoz and Salazar have been linked to the attack as authorities believe they are behind a criminal cell that facilitated the firearms used by the attackers on the 2020 murder attempt, as well as to the 2022 murder of an immigration officer in Chihuahua.