The Government of Mexico announced this Tuesday the death of Luis Enrique Barragán, known as "El Güicho" or "R5", identified as the main responsible for the Cártel de Los Reyes and for whom the United States offered a reward of three million dollars, during an operation by security forces in the state of Michoacán.
"As a result of military intelligence work, elements of the Defense and the National Guard, in coordination with the State Attorney General's Office and the State Police of Michoacán, carried out an operation in Tocumbo, where members of a criminal group attacked military personnel with gunfire," explained the Secretary of Security, Omar García Harfuch.
In this intervention, "two aggressors" died, including "El Güicho", whom Mexican authorities identify as the leader of the Cártel de los Reyes —a branch of the Cárteles Unidos— and "the main coordinator of extortions against avocado producers in the region."
"In addition, he had a provisional arrest warrant for extradition to the United States and the State Department of that country offered a reward of three million dollars for information leading to his arrest for drug and arms trafficking to Mexico," he added on social media.
The Ministry of Defense specified in a statement that in the operation —in which the aggressors opened fire against federal forces— two automatic rifles, cartridges, and magazines of different calibers were secured, in addition to an all-terrain vehicle.
"El Güicho" took control of the cartel after the capture of Alfonso N, alias "Poncho" —arrested on August 1 by the Mexican Army in the municipality of Los Reyes de Salgado, in Michoacán— and maintained ties with Juan José N, alias "El Abuelo", leader of the Cártel de Tepalcatepec.