From ‘Brother Wang’ to members of ‘Los Chapitos’, the drug traffickers arrested in Mexico 2025

Who are the drug traffickers arrested in 2025?

‘El Chavo’ Felix

Among the arrests are a character close to Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, Juan Carlos “N”, known as ‘El Chavo’ Félix, who was captured in January 2025 in Quilá, Culiacán.

This man is the son-in-law of ‘El Mayo’. He is married to his daughter Teresa Zambada Ortiz. He was also an alleged financial operator of ‘Los Mayitos’.

After actively participating in the war against ‘Los Chapitos’, he was part of the delivery of 26 Mexican drug traffickers to the United States in August of this year.

Bermúdez and ‘El Viejón’

In September, federal and Jalisco forces arrested Gustavo “N”, known as ‘El Viejón’, who was allegedly head of the La Barredora operational group, linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

He is accused of crimes of extortion, homicide, distribution and sale of drugs, illegal deprivation of liberty, vehicle theft, theft of hydrocarbons and cargo transportation, as well as attacks against antagonistic groups and security corporations in Guanajuato.

This arrest occurred almost two weeks after Hernán Bermúdez, leader of La Barredora, was detained in a luxurious home in Paraguay. Authorities point out the former Secretary of Security in Tabasco during the government of Adán Augusto López for the increase in violence in Tabasco.

Hernán Bermúdez had an arrest warrant since February of this year for the crimes of criminal association, extortion and express kidnapping in Tabasco, and he had a red file from Interpol.

‘Brother Wang’

In October, “Brother Wang,” whose real name is Zhi Dong Zhang, was recaptured. Authorities found him in Cuba after having escaped from Mexico through a hole in the wall of the house where he was staying.

In October 2024, the Chinese citizen was detained in Mexico City after an operation by the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection and other agencies, such as the National Defense. However, eight months later he was given house arrest, from which he fled.

Wang is in the United States, where he is being investigated for money laundering and drug trafficking for being one of the suppliers of chemical precursors for the manufacture of fentanyl and methamphetamines for the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación cartels.

‘The Korean’

Another arrest occurred after the findings of Rancho Izaguirre, where young people were taken with false promises of employment on social networks, but in the end it was a forced recruitment and training center operated by the CJNG.

In November, Héctor “N”, known as ‘El Coreano’, was arrested. It is allegedly linked to the crimes of forced disappearance committed against individuals, human trafficking and organized crime that occurred in Rancho Izaguirre, Teuchitlán, Jalisco.

It is presumed that this man was a member of the CJNG and was transferred to Puente Grande, Jalisco.

Roberto “N”, ‘El 02’

One of the detainees is Roberto “N”, ‘El 02’, who is allegedly a member of Los Fariseos, a criminal cell related to the Pacific Cartel. He was considered one of the main generators of violence in various municipalities of Chihuahua, such as Aldama, Coyame del Sotol and Manuel Benavides.

His arrest was in December, when the authorities captured him along with 11 other people, who were also allegedly part of this cartel, along with 11 long weapons, two machine guns, two Barrett rifles, three vehicles, a drone and various explosive devices.

‘El 02’ has an extradition order to the United States.

‘The Tavo’

Also this December, the National Guard and the Army arrested Gustavo Antonio “N”, alias ‘Tavo’, who is alleged to be the leader of the Beltrán Leyva Cartel in Baja California.

During his arrest, 9 kilos and 330 pills of fentanyl, four short weapons, one long gun, cartridges of various calibers, six cell phones and two properties were seized.

He has judicial charges in the United States for drug trafficking and was identified as a priority target by the federal government.

Members of ‘Los Chapitos’

This year, the Mexican authorities captured several members, close friends and relatives of ‘Los Chapitos’.

one was Luis Alfonso “N”, ‘El Toner’, who is identified as head of security for ‘Los Chapitos’. He was detained in Culiacán, Sinaloa, after he went to the hospital to be treated, since he was injured in a gunfight.

This man arrived on his own at the hospital, where he was treated for several days and after being discharged, he was detained.

Authorities also captured Mauro “N”, ‘El Jando’who was Iván Archivaldo Guzmán’s trusted pilot and was in charge of national and international drug trafficking through air travel. And it is estimated that in just three years he moved up to 600 kilos of cocaine and half a ton of weapons.

Also Kevin Alonso “N”, ‘El 200’who was head of security for Iván Archivaldo Guzmán, leader of the Chapitos. He was arrested during an operation carried out by the Secretariat of National Defense, the National Guard and the Air Force in Culiacán.

This person was not only responsible for security, he also coordinated the purchase of weapons and municipalities for this criminal faction, and is related to homicides, extortion and attacks on the authorities, as well as generating violence in Sinaloa and imposing punishments on members of the organization. He was delivered to the United States.

Furthermore it is Rogelio “N”, alias ‘El Gato’. He was in charge of the manufacture and use of explosives for this criminal cell. Before his arrest, this character was allegedly planning to carry out an attack with explosives at the Sinaloa justice facilities.

His arrest took place in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, as the authorities identified the man in the Invasión del Palmito neighborhood. During a security check, they found a short firearm on him.

In March, federal and state forces in Morelos detained Rafael “N”, ‘The Golden Child’, who is the alleged deputy boss of the Sinaloa Cartel, while celebrating his birthday. He is identified as one of the main generators of violence in said entity and is linked to the armed attack against the former mayor of Atlatlahuacan in 2023.

Also in April he was captured Joel Alfonso “N”, ‘El Gangoso’who was allegedly the leader of a criminal cell linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, in Mexico City. He is being investigated for his work in the production, storage and distribution of drugs.