Mexican special forces have captured Audias Flores, known as “El Jardinero,” one of the top commanders of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel in a major security operation in western Mexico. Authorities said Flores was arrested in the state of Nayarit after a lengthy intelligence effort.
Flores was considered one of the cartel’s most influential regional leaders and had been viewed by analysts as a possible successor after the death of longtime cartel boss “El Mencho” earlier this year. U.S. authorities had previously offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture.
Officials said the operation involved hundreds of troops and ended without a reported firefight. According to reports, Flores was found hiding in a drainage ditch after armed escorts attempted to create a diversion near Puerto Vallarta.
The arrest is likely to be watched closely in both Mexico and the United States, where cartel trafficking networks remain tied to drug smuggling, organized crime, and the flow of fentanyl across the border. High-level captures can disrupt operations, but criminal groups often move quickly to reorganize.
For now, the capture marks another significant test of whether sustained pressure can weaken one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the hemisphere.
