Sinaloa Cartel's El Griego Executed in Restaurant in SLRC, Sonora

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat 

Sinaloa Cartel’s operator Manuel Andrés , alias “El Griego”, was executed while inside a restaurant in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora. 

Warning: Graphic photos below this point.

The Restaurant Execution 

On March 28, 2022, a green pick up truck arrived outside the seafood restaurant called Mariscos La Concordia located on Calle 2, near Chiapas Avenue in the city of San Luis Río Colorado. Two armed men exited the vehicle and entered the restaurant.

Once the pair spotted their target, they took out their weapons and began to open fire. At least two men were shot inside the establishment. According to Tribuna de San Luis, the attackers “gave the victims practically no opportunity to defend themselves.” The attackers then fled the area and no arrests have been announced in relation to the shooting.

Both men who were shot were reportedly from the neighboring state of Baja California. One of the victims was Juan Manuel "N", 29 years old, who was wounded in the right hand and left leg.

Meanwhile the other victim and the primary target of the attack, Manuel Andrés "N", 33 years old, died in the restaurant from multiple gunshot wounds. He was a resident of the city of Tijuana. Next to Manuel Andrés, officers found a fanny pack with a 9 mm pistol with corresponding magazines. It should be noted that fanny packs are often culturally associated with drug dealing.

Multiple social media accounts have alleged that the deceased is a Sinaloa Cartel (Cártel de Sinaloa, CDS) operator who goes by the alias “El Griego”, or “The Greek”.  

Possible Identity

It is unclear if this “El Griego” is a relatively unknown operator whose real name is truly Manuel Andrés or if the man killed is CDS leader Victor Hugo Mejía López and the “Manuel Andrés” from the official statement is simply a fake name. 

Victor Hugo Mejía López, alias “El Griego”, has been identified as a lieutenant of Sinaloa Cartel’s Alfonso Arzate García, alias “El Aquiles”, and René Arzate García, alias “La Rana”, since at least 2016.

In 2016, El Griego was fighting a war against CJNG leader Arturo Gómez Herrera, alias “El Gross”, for control of the Tijuana neighborhood of Sánchez Taboada. Then after El Gross’s death, he continued his fight for the area against El Gross’s lieutenant, Israel Alejandro Vázquez Pérez, alias “Cabo 50”. 

As of at least 2020, El Griego was still being identify as an active CDS operator by Zeta Tijuana. 

Possible Motive

One of the rumors surrounding the killing in the restaurant is that the deceased was executed for betraying CDS by joining up with the Cártel Arellano Félix (CAF). 

This is a confusing explanation as San Luis Río Colorado is considered to be the stronghold city of the Sinaloa Cartel subgroup Los Salazar, who are considered to be Los Chapitos aligned and Los Chapitos have had a multi-year long alliance with certain factions of the CAF in Tijuana. 

It would make sense for a different Sinaloa Cartel subgroup, such as Aquiles/Rana, who are El Mayo aligned, to have it out for a CDS operator turned CAF member as they have no such alliance however the fact remains that the execution occurred in the Los Salazar/ Los Chapitos stronghold city of San Luis Río Colorado. 

Sources: Official FGE Statement, Tribuna de San Luis, Diario Noticias, Calvarie Locus, El Blog de Los Guachos, La Voz del Pueblo de San Luis Río Colorado Post 1, Post 2, Post 3