Leader of Criminal Gang Captured after Killing of Transit Police in Guanajuato

By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat

Three men, one of them alleged to be a leader of criminal group, were arrested by Guanajuato authorities yesterday related to the killing of two transit police officers in Celaya, Guanajuato two weeks ago.

Following an investigation, authorities have arrested three individuals accused of killing two police officers in Mexico's most violent state for police. This happens in the midst of a violent conflict between the CJNG and CSRL, who have been fighting for control of the state since the mid-2010s, a war which has costed the state over 25,000 lives.

The arrest was announced by the Guanajuato state Attorney General's Office (Fiscalía General del Estado de Guanajuato) on Twitter. The three men were identified as Germán N, alias "El Porro", the leader of a crime group, Juan Leonel "N", and Cristian "N". 

"El Porro" and the two other men are accused of being involved in high profile killing of two transit police officers on 10 July, 2024. The event was mentioned by Mexican president Lopez Obrador, who questioned at a morning conference why the criminals felt it necessary to kill two unarmed traffic enforcement officers.

The 10 July Killing of Two Police Officers

Police responding to the 10 July killing of two transit officers.

In that event, two police officers were ambushed around 9:00 AM on the Panamericana Celaya – Salamanca.highway while pulling over for gas. Two men on a motorbike, apparently waiting, opened fire, killing the officers. According to Guanajuato authorities, El Porro, who ordered the killing, was observing from another nearby vehicle.

Local news reports at the time said that the suspects fled in a black SUV towards Salvatierra, in the south of the state.

Map of the CJNG - CSRL conflict in Guanajuato by security analyst David Saucedo.

Sources: El Sol del Bajio, FGE Twitter, Registro Sur GTO, Tribuna, El Sol del Bajio, AMLO Press Conference