Epifanio “N,” alias “Pepa,” identified as a regional operator of the La Línea Cartel and wanted by the United States for extradition on drug-trafficking charges, was arrested along with his son, Alejandro “N,” during an operation carried out in the municipality of Manuel Ojinaga, Chihuahua.
“The arrest was achieved as a result of the exchange of information with United States authorities and military intelligence efforts,” the Security Cabinet explained on its X account.
According to the Security Cabinet, Epifanio “N” was identified as being responsible for activities related to the production and transportation of drugs, as well as the trafficking of migrants from Mexico to the United States.
The detainee had a provisional arrest warrant for extradition purposes on drug-trafficking charges.
The operation involved personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense (Defense) and the National Guard, in coordination with the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the Attorney General’s Office (FGR).
Arsenal Seized During the Arrest of ‘La Pepa’
During the operation, authorities seized a property, five firearms, 16 magazines, 400 rounds of ammunition, and two vehicles, the Security Cabinet reported.
Federal authorities stated that the capture was the result of intelligence efforts and the exchange of information with U.S. authorities, mechanisms that, according to the federal government, make it possible to locate and arrest relevant targets of criminal organizations.
The Security Cabinet maintained that these actions seek to reduce the operational capacity of criminal groups through coordination among security and law-enforcement institutions.
What Is the La Línea Cartel?
According to the specialized organized-crime portal InSight Crime, La Línea is a criminal organization that emerged in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, in the early 2000s.
The group was originally created by active and retired local and state police officers to provide protection to organizations involved in drug trafficking. Over time, it became one of the main criminal forces in Chihuahua and was linked to the Juárez Cartel, for which it operated as an armed wing and territorial-control structure.
Although its main stronghold remains Ciudad Juárez, its activities have expanded to different areas of Chihuahua. InSight Crime notes that La Línea has been involved in clashes with factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in the four corners of the state, including Ojinaga, Moris, and Guadalupe y Calvo. The dispute is particularly focused on control of strategic routes for trafficking drugs and migrants into the United States.
Source: elfinanciero
