Sinaloa Cartel Leader And Former Mexican Official 'El Tigre' Cornered As Judge Moves Forward With Homicide Case

Mexico's top security official Omar García Harfuch announced in December the capture of Miguel Ángel Cuéllar Rangel, a.k.a "El Tigre," a former State Bureau of Investigation Director in Quintana Roo and an alleged leader for the Sinaloa cartel in the state of Quintana Roo.

Ever since his arrest, authorities have been investigating the former director and have now linked "El Tigre" to a homicide reported in the municipality of Benito Juárez, a significant tourist destination in Mexico where Cancun is located.

Cuéllar Rangel was informed about the judge's decision on January 2 and is expected to be placed in pre-trial arrest while authorities continue investigating the case.

At the time of his arrest, Harfuch detailed that authorities arrested "El Tigre" in the city of Pachuca. Cuéllar Rangel had two outstanding warrants that accused him of qualified homicide. The security secretary said that "El Tigre" was a priority target for Mexican authorities in the state of Quintana Roo due to his former position within the state's investigative police and his ties with the Sinaloa cartel.

Who is "El Tigre?"

Cuéllar Rangel has been identified by authorities as a leader for the Sinaloa Cartel in the Quintana Roo region. "El Tigre" was a former director of the state's investigative police force that reported to the Quintana Roo Prosecutor's Office.

The Sinaloa cartel clique in the Caribbean region was linked to extortion and homicide cases in the municipality of Benito Juárez. Previous intel reports indicated that "El Tigre" used to move around between Quintana Roo, Nuevo León and Mexico City in order to avoid being captured. Despite his efforts, members of the Army, Navy, National Guard and Mexico's Attorney Genera's Office captured him in the state of Hidalgo on Dec. 17.

What is "El Tigre" being accused of?

According to Infobae Mexico, Cuéllar Rangel is being linked to a homicide that took place on May 23, 2023 near Alfredo V. Bonfil, just south of Cancun.

Official reports detail that a vehicle driven by Alonso "N" alias "El 7" and with "El Tigre" as the co-pilot stopped near a stable, where Cuéllar Rangel allegedly shot an individual on multiple occasions before fleeing from the crime scene.

Authorities thought it was an isolated murder, but reports revealed similarities between the homicide and the modus operandi of the Sinaloa cartel in the region, who are known for conducting homicides from vehicles.