MEXICO CITY, July 30 - Mexican security officials announced the arrest of a man they say led a criminal cell connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and who ordered the killing of a municipal mayor in the state of Michoacan, Security Minister Omar Garcia said in a post on X on Thursday.
The slain mayor, identified as Carlos Manzo of Uruapan, had been publicly critical of what he described as the federal government's failure to effectively address rising crime in his area, authorities said. Manzo was killed in November 2025, an event that shook the nation and sparked protests focused on public insecurity.
According to the security minister's post, the detainee is Ramon Angel, who is also known by the alias "El R1." Garcia said Angel is suspected to be the leader of a group called "Los Rs," which the minister linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The cell has been accused by officials of involvement in extortion, homicide and drug trafficking.
Authorities have moved against a broader network in connection with the case: at least 31 people have been arrested on allegations of links to the attack. Among those detained is a 17-year-old boy who is believed to have fired at Mayor Manzo; the boy was then shot dead by security forces, officials said.
Following the assassination, Manzo's wife, Grecia Quiroz, succeeded him as mayor of Uruapan. The killing prompted a national-level response, with President Claudia Sheinbaum announcing a plan to confront crime in the state that included the deployment of more than 10,500 security personnel.
The security minister's announcement on X provided the core details authorities have released publicly about the arrests and the alleged criminal activities of the group known as Los Rs. Officials described a series of coordinated detentions tied to the probe but offered limited additional detail in the public post.
As the case advances, authorities have emphasized the number of arrests related to the investigation and the link officials allege between the detained individuals and organized criminal activity in Michoacan. The events surrounding the mayor's death and the subsequent law enforcement response remain central to public debate about security policy and federal intervention in the state.