“Morogris” for Borderland Beat
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| The 15 properties were located in the Guanajuato municipalities of Irapuato, Celaya, Silao, San Francisco del Rincón, Salvatierra, and León (image credit: Excelsior) |
Mexican federal forces, in collaboration with state authorities, conducted searches on 15 properties allegedly linked to the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) in Guanajuato. During these operations, 24 individuals were arrested, and significant quantities of drugs, firearms, and vehicles were seized.
The identified buildings were suspected to be the key locations where the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel coordinated its drug dealing activities. With the backing of federal forces, Mexico’s Attorney General’s office (FGR) and the Guanajuato State Attorney General’s Office secured the required court orders to enter these properties and conduct their search operations.
Authorities discovered 4,300 doses of methamphetamine, 110 doses of marijuana, 41 bags of methamphetamine, 16 firearms, seven vehicles, three motorcycles, and various tactical equipment in these locations.
The CSRL is the criminal organization based in the municipality of Santa Rosa de Lima in Guanajuato whose origins date back to at least 2017. Initially, it focused on stealing fuel from the Pemex pipelines passing through the region.
However, it quickly diversified its activities, which included extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking. Competition for these illegal markets led to a turf war with the rival Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The CSRL’s top leader was José Antonio Yépez Ortiz (“El Marro”, The Sledgehammer). He was arrested on August 2020 in Apaseo del Alto municipality.