Mexican forces captured Audias Flores Silva, alias "El Jardinero," a senior CJNG commander who had a $5 million U.S. reward on his head. He was found hiding in a ditch near El Mirador, Nayarit; no casualties were reported. U.S. officials are seeking his extradition on drug and weapons charges. Authorities say the arrest is a major setback for the CJNG, though analysts caution the cartel can quickly reorganize.
Mexico Captures Top CJNG Commander 'El Jardinero' — $5M U.S. Reward, No Casualties
Members of Mexican Special Forces escort Audias Flores, known as
Mexico's military captured Audias Flores Silva, known as "El Jardinero," a senior commander of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in a high-profile operation in Nayarit. U.S. authorities had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and are seeking his extradition on drug and firearms charges.
Mexican officials said Flores Silva was found hiding in a roadside ditch near the community of El Mirador in Nayarit. Authorities reported no injuries or fatalities during the operation. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch shared video on social media that appears to show a man emerging from a hole as he is taken into custody.
Operation Details
The Mexican military said the raid involved reconnaissance aircraft, six helicopters, four fixed-wing planes and more than 100 troops on the ground. Officials described the capture as the result of coordinated aerial and ground reconnaissance.
A U.S. Department of State wanted poster of Audias Flores‑Silva, known as
Role in the CJNG
Flores Silva had been viewed as a potential successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," who was killed in a military operation in February. Mexican security officials say Flores Silva served as El Mencho's head of security and helped oversee the cartel's drug production and trafficking operations in Nayarit, Jalisco, the State of Mexico and Zacatecas.
Aftermath and Wider Context
Local media reported that several vehicles and businesses were burned in Nayarit following the arrest. The detention was praised by U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson as an "important step" against those profiting from fentanyl trafficking.
Analysts warn, however, that organized criminal groups can quickly adapt after leadership losses. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates the CJNG operates in at least 21 of Mexico's 32 states, with some analysts placing its presence in as many as 25 states and activities spanning roughly 100 countries.
Separate Arrests and Border Disruption
Separately, authorities in Tamaulipas reported the arrest of Alexander Benavides Flores, known as "R9," a suspected leader of Los Metros, a faction of the Gulf Cartel. That detention prompted at least eight highway blockades around the border city of Reynosa; security forces later reestablished control and reported no injuries.
Background: Flores Silva previously served a five-year U.S. prison sentence for drug trafficking before returning to Mexico. Mexican authorities detained him in 2016 over an alleged ambush on police and released him three years later. U.S. authorities have sought his extradition since 2021 on charges that include drug conspiracy and firearms violations.
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