Mexican security forces have arrested Rafael “N,” known as “R2,” an alleged senior commander of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), alongside 19 other individuals during a federal operation in Zapopan, Jalisco, supported by intelligence shared by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

The operation took place on Sunday, November 8, and was led by the Mexican Navy's Special Naval Operations Unit in coordination with the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), with support from Mexican Army special forces. Authorities said R2's location was identified through intelligence work by Mexico's National Intelligence Center (CNI) and information provided by the DEA.

During the operation, naval personnel came under armed attack and returned fire. R2 and one Mexican naval officer were wounded in the exchange and received medical attention. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the identities or legal status of the other 19 individuals detained during the operation.

R2 is identified by Mexican authorities as a key leader of “Los Rs,” a CJNG-affiliated criminal cell operating across Jalisco and Michoacán. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch described the organization as a significant source of violence in the region, linking it to extortion, drug trafficking, homicide, kidnapping, unlawful deprivation of liberty and attacks against security forces. Its reported extortion targets include business owners and avocado producers.

The suspect has an outstanding arrest warrant in Mexico for aggravated homicide, issued by a court in Apatzingán, Michoacán, as well as an arrest warrant for extradition to the United States. Mexican naval authorities have also linked him to the killing of former Uruapan mayor Carlos Manzo and 19 other people.

Manzo was assassinated on November 1, 2025, during a public Day of the Dead celebration in Uruapan, Michoacán, while attending the event with his family. The investigation into his killing has drawn national attention, particularly over the involvement of organized criminal networks operating in the state.

U.S. Federal Charges and DEA Intelligence

R2 has also been indicted in the United States. A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on August 26, 2026, charging Rafael Alvarez Ayala, identified in U.S. court documents as “R2” and “Rafa,” alongside his brother Ramón Alvarez Ayala, known as “R1.”

The brothers are accused of participating in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for importation into the United States, as well as firearms offenses involving machine guns. According to the indictment, both held regional command positions within the CJNG in Michoacán.

The DEA has confirmed that R2 is wanted in the United States on federal drug trafficking and firearms charges. The agency's intelligence-sharing with Mexican authorities contributed to the operation that led to his capture.

The arrest represents another significant operation against the CJNG's regional command structure, with the group's networks facing continued pressure from Mexican security forces and U.S. law enforcement cooperation.