Alleged Jalisco Cartel Leader 'The Tank' Arrested in Mexico
Iván Cazarín Molina, previously sanctioned by the U.S. for fuel theft, was apprehended in Zapopan.
Authorities in Mexico have arrested Iván Cazarín Molina, a high-ranking member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) known as "The Tank." The announcement was made Tuesday by Mexican Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch.
Molina was apprehended in Zapopan and is facing multiple accusations, including involvement in homicides, extortion, illegal deprivation of liberty, hydrocarbon theft, and money laundering. Mexican authorities stated they were in contact with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) following the arrest.
In September 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Molina for his alleged role in fuel theft operations for the CJNG and identified him as part of the inner circle of cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." This action led to an exchange of information with the DEA.
Harfuch also noted that Molina is accused of alleged involvement in a 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco, which resulted in the deaths of military and federal police personnel. During the arrest, authorities seized a vehicle, a firearm, and various drugs.
Molina will be transferred to the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime Matters (FEMDO) to determine his legal status.
The arrest follows a series of U.S. sanctions aimed at disrupting drug cartel networks. Last week, the U.S. imposed sanctions on a Sinaloa cartel faction, Los Mayos, and its alleged leader, Ismael Zambada Sicairos, also known as "Mayito Flaco," for corrupting Mexican officials and funneling fentanyl and drug money through California.