Details Of Tropa Del Infierno Leader El Werko's Arrest Finally Released By FGR

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

The details of how Cartel del Noreste’s (CDN) El Werko was apprehended have finally been released as part of the indictment against him which will keep him in custody until he later stands trial for various charges. 

On August 9, 2021, federal officers arrested Fernando Martínez Adame and/or Fernando de Jesús Hernández Adame, alias “El Werko” was thought to be the leader of CDN’s armed wing called Tropa del Infierno (Troop from Hell, Hell’s Army). 

Milenio newspaper asserts that Tropa del Infierno’s “function is to provide security for the head of the criminal organization, Juan Gerardo Chávez”, alias “El Huevo”.  However other sources describe Tropa as more of a war force and enforcer-style “execution arm”, as they are known for incidents such as the execution of three rivals on video which goes beyond the purview of a kingpin personal security group. 

Regardless of the group’s functions, at 12:30 PM on August 26, 2021, the Attorney General's Office (FGR) released four unseen photos related to El Werko’s arrest and they linked to a new press release which read: 

The Attorney General's Office (FGR), through the Special Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO), obtained the indictment of a person for the probable responsibility in the crimes against health in the modality of simple possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.

On August 9, 2021, elements of the Federal Ministerial Police (PFM), experts and ministerial personnel executed a search warrant in two properties located in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, achieving the arrest of Fernando "M", who was found to be in possession of 434.7 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, 26.1 grams of cocaine, 996 fentanyl tablets, a long barrel rifle-type weapon with its magazine supplied with 29 cartridges, 1,200 US dollars, three communication radios and a cell phone.

 

Subsequently, in continuation of the initial hearing, the Control Judge assigned to the Federal Criminal Justice Center in the State of Mexico, with residence in Almoloya, sent this individual to trial for the probable commission of the referred crimes.

So what does this statement tell us that we didn’t know? We know they had a search warrant for two properties. It is possible the search warrants were executed simultaneously in order to prevent the inhabitants of one property from warning the inhabitants of another property. Two locations could be indicative of intelligence narrowing down a target’s location to two safehouses, or it may indicate that there were two targets as objective for the search warrants. 

From the press release we now know that El Werko was arrested in possession of two firearms and multiple drugs, so at the very least he can be brought up on drug and firearm possession charges. The FGR statement earlier states that El Werko was charged with “simple possession” for these drugs as well as possession of a firearm for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.

Some of the big questions that surrounded his arrest still go unanswered. El Universal, Proceso and Excelsior all detailed that on the day in which El Werko was captured eight Tropa del Infierno men were killed. Proceso writes the clash that killed eight members was a separate incident that occurred shortly after Werko’s arrest as it was an attack which intended to free Werko.

There still is no official confirmation on these allegations. The number of casualties or injuries on the military/law enforcement side or the armed criminal side still has no confirmation although those details are rarely released in a statement about an indictment. 

FGR Photo 1

FGR Photo 2

FGR Photo 3

FGR Photo 4

Sources: FGR Official Press Release, FGR Official Tweets with Photos, Milenio, Infobae

Reference: Proceso - Three executed, El Universal, Proceso - El Werko Arrest, Excelsior