CJNG Assassin Squad Leader 'Delta 1' Arrested in Guadalajara

"MX" for Borderland Beat; TY to "Itzli"

Armando Gómez Núñez

Mexican federal authorities announced on Monday that they arrested Armando Gómez Núñez ("Delta 1" AKA "El Máximo"), a suspected high-ranking member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). He is believed to command Los Deltas, an assassin squad based in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

On 21 June 2020, authorities carried out a search inside a house in Jadines del Country, an upscale neighborhood in Guadalajara. The search warrant was authorized by a Mexico City judge specialized in investigation cases. Gómez Núñez was arrested at the house during a joint operation carried out by the Mexican Army, the National Guard (GN) the Attorney General's Office (FGR) and the National Intelligence Center (CNI).

At the scene, investigators seized two rifles, a pistol, ammunition, electronic devices, Mexican currency in cash, two vehicles, as well as various packages of cocaine totaling 519.9 grams (18.2 oz). The FGR informed that the district judge declared the detention of Gómez Núñez constitutional and charged him with drug trafficking and of violating Mexico's Federal Law of Firearms and Explosives.

Since the crimes fall under federal jurisdiction and are considered "serious" in nature, the judge ordered Gómez Núñez to be held without bond for three months while the prosecution continues to gather more evidences against him. He will be imprisoned at a separate facility inside the Federal Social Readaptation Center No. 2 ("Puente Grande"), a maximum-security prison in Jalisco.

According to police reports, Los Deltas serves as an armed wing of the CJNG under Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes ("El Mencho"). This subgroup was reportedly formed by Martin Arzola Ortega ("El 53"), one of the early members of the CJNG, who was killed in August 2019.

Several items were seized at the house where Delta 1 was hiding

During its initial formation, Los Deltas included hitmen recruited from Puerto Vallarta and southern Nayarit. They have committed a number of high-profile crimes, including the May 2018 assassination attempt against Luis Carlos Nájera Gutiérrez de Velasco, former Attorney General of Jalisco.

It is worth mentioning that the CJNG garnered intentional headlines and reactions from the highest levels of the Mexican government after the assassination attempt against Mexico City's police chief Omar García Harfuch last week.

Sources: La Jornada; Infobae; Proceso; El Mural (subscription required)