Who was El Cebollas of the CAF? Alleged leader of FEF Killed in February

El Armadillo for Borderland Beat

In early February, during a party in Tijuana, 26 year old Jesús Sebastián Moreno Olivas—known as "El Sebas" or "El Cebollas"—was fatally shot, police found 30 shell casings at the scene. His death appears to have been a significant blow to the Cartel Arellano Felix faction led by Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, more commonly known as "El Flaquito." In the weeks following the incident, several images related to  El Cebollas circulated on social media.

These images, posted by account that is likely Flaquito's or authorized by him, depict Cebollas' wake, where multiple photos of him are displayed around his coffin and his initials are spelled out in flowers. A heart-shaped wreath bearing the message “Con amor de tu esposa” (“With love from your wife”) includes a photo of Cebollas alongside his wife. One image next to his initials shows him wearing a crown—similar to others shared online—that appears to read Cartel Arellano Felix. The coffin itself is decorated with designs resembling bills, marked with the initials "TJ", "CAF", and dollar signs.

Another image shows two wreaths, one large heart says "El Flaquito De Tijuana" and the other is only partially visible but it likely says "Tu Amigo El Buho de Tijuana"

The caption left by Flaquito's account says:

Hay cosas que no se olvidan, una de esas cosas eres tú, mi gran amigo. No se olvidan esos momentos, estuviste en los momentos buenos y momentos malos, siempre firme con los firmes. Tú sabes lo que fuimos y lo que somos, y que no se acabe la cebollisa 🧅🕊️

Translation:  

There are things you don’t forget — and you’re one of them, my great friend. Those moments don’t fade, you were there through the good times and the bad, always loyal with the loyal. You know what we were and what we are, and may the cebollisa never end 🧅🕊️

Punto Norte reported that Cebollas was a bodyguard for El Flaquito and was present during the 2023 pharmacy shooting in which Flaquito was targeted. Borderland Beat has an in-depth breakdown of the attack. At the time, it was reported that Flaquito and one of his bodyguards were wounded. Punto Norte confirmed that Cebollas was the bodyguard who was struck.

That same week in December 2023, Signal Mex, a cartel news YouTube channel, shared information from a local Instagram page also claiming that Sebastian Moreno—Cebollas’ real name—was the one injured in the attack. The post also revealed that he was the leader of the Fuerzas Especiales del Flaquito, or FEF, Flaquito’s armed wing.

Cebollas’ presence at the pharmacy is also referenced in a tribute corrido. Los Tamayo, a local music group, recently released “Afirmativo Yo Fui El Cebollas,” which includes the following line:

"Y la vez del aquel topon en la farmacia, los hicimos recular"

"And that shootout at the pharmacy, we made them retreat"

After his murder, another local Instagram page "gente_delatiajuana" described El Cebollas as the number two in command of Flaquito’s organization. The account also refers to Flaquito as “Flaquito Rata,” indicating a bias. Other posts from the account claim that Flaquito is an informant for the DEA. I have not been able to find any official sources reporting that.  Given their bias, it’s possible they exaggerated Cebollas’ importance in an effort to frame his death as a major blow to Flaquito. 

Still, Cebollas’ role during the attack at the pharmacy—where he helped repel the ambush and took a bullet for Flaquito—is exactly the kind of act expected from a top security figure. Regardless if he held that position at the time or rose to it later.

Another line from the corrido mentions "La Cebolla con sonrisa fue mi logo personal", "The smiling onion was my personal logo" 

On the left is "La CAFetera," a mischievous kettle symbol used by the CAF. On the right is a variation of the logo featuring an onion, representing El Cebollas. This personalized version can also be seen covering his coffin. The red "X" featured in the design is a nod to the CAF's ties to Tijuana’s local soccer team, the Xolos. This emblem appears prominently on the cover of the aforementioned corrido, where the same bill-shaped designs from his coffin are also featured. Merchandise, including hats bearing the logo and Cebollas’ initials on the side, is now being produced. There's even a birthday cake topper designed with this imagery.

Social Media references to Cebollas often contain the number 316, I have not been able to make out the meaning and two CAF associated accounts that I messaged have not responded. If any readers have insight please drop a comment.

Punto Norte further reported that Cebollas maintained an online presence on Instagram and they shared this image of Cebollas with musician Natanael Cano.

Cebollas was charged in November 2023 with the kidnapping of a scientist but was released by a judge, the state prosecutors office lamented his release and criticized the judiciary's decision. 

In January, weeks before his murder, Cebollas and other members of Flaquitos group were targeted by a narcomanta that was found with bagged up humans remains inside a vehicle left in Tijuana. There is no photo of the manta but according to Zeta it said the following:

Esto les va a pasar al que le siga el rollo a los alucinados del CAF

Paquillo o 41

El joto del Cebollas

Chapito Leal

El Chore

todos los que le sigan la cura a esa bola de alucinados así van a quedar…

ey tú joto del Cebollas no traes nada mándame un número para mandarte a regalar equipos

Flaquito Rata:

tienes que robar más para equipar a tus muchachos ya ves que dan lástima, eres un bueno para nada flaco rata, pablo edwin huerta núñez hasta como informante vales un kilo de verga

ATT. El Que Los Borrara Del Mapa

Translation:

This is what’s going to happen to anyone who sides with the alucinada of the CAF

Paquillo or 41

The faggot El Cebollas

Chapito Leal

El Chore

Everyone who sides with that bunch of alucines will end up like this...

Hey you, faggot El Cebollas, you’ve got nothing. Send me a number so I can gift you some gear

Flaquito rat:

You need to steal more to equip your guys—look at them, they’re pathetic. You’re useless, Flaquito rat. Pablo Edwin Huerta Núñez, even as an informant you’re worth shit

Att. The One Who Will Erase You From The Map

Police working on scene where the manta was found

The use of the term “alucinado” appears to be suggesting that CAF are larping—pretending to be a cartel while lacking the resources. This sentiment is shared by rival groups operating around Tijuana when it comes to Flaquito. For a detailed breakdown of how El Flaquito earned this reputation, see Hearst's piece, “The History of El Flaquito: Rising to Rule Through Stealing & Backstabbing.”

Cebollas being singled out in the manta reinforces his importance within the structure. The specific mockery of his group's lack of gear further suggests a leadership role within FEF.

The authorship of the manta remains unknown, but Flaquito has no shortage of enemies.

Photo from Zeta at the scene of Cebollas murder

Below is information from Zeta:

"The ballistics analysis of the crime scene where Cebollas life ended shows that there were three shooters, and that one of the pistols used was used in two other homicides. The first occurred on March 9, 2019, on Aries Street in the Los Olivos neighborhood, when Eduardo Amador Domínguez—an alleged member of the CAF—was killed while carrying a firearm. The 9mm shell casings were also found in the murder of Erick Flores, a former military officer and head of security at the Casa Blanca entertainment center, who was gunned down on October 22, 2024, by two motorcyclists. 

Just six days before El Cebollas' death, the body of another active CAF member, Óscar González Sotomayor, alias El Lori, was found in a car at Plaza Río. Lori’s wife, Elizabet Corona Barrón, is the sister of David Corona Barrón, a notorious figure from the Logan Heights gang, which historically worked with the Arellano Felix brothers. David was killed during the 1997 ambush of journalist J. Jesús Blancornelas, in which ZETA’s bodyguard Luis Valero was slain.

In recent days, a series of high-impact homicides involving organized crime in at least three municipalities of Baja California has revealed to investigators a murder network involving both the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF). This includes internal disputes led by Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, alias "El Flaquito," a cell leader of the latter criminal organization.

Operators and sicarios of the CAF have been killed—individuals who have been in conflict with the Sinaloa Cartel for the past couple of years due to drug theft. Additionally, Flaquito is also in conflict with two of his former criminal associates.

According to investigators, the killers belong to the cell led by Brayan James Corona, alias "El Apache", from whom Flaquito split after suspecting that Apache’s group leaked information that led to him being shot in December 2023.

El Flaquito’s other open criminal front is the CJNG, which has allegedly attacked him because his associates stole drugs from them. “200 kilos of cocaine, according to witnesses,” said an investigator from Baja California’s Peace and Security Roundtable. He specified that this was a recent theft, not the one already reported that occurred in October 2024.

This violent split within the CAF and the internal war in Sinaloa between the cells of Los Mayos and Los Chapos—marked by shootouts, decapitations, and mounting criminal casualties—is being exploited by the Jalisco cartel to seize criminal control over the human smuggling and drug trafficking routes in Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada."

Notably, according to Zeta, El Apache, Flaquito's former right hand man who was shot in the US in 2024, seems to have split with Flaquito. This wave of violence might be the start of a larger conflict in Tijuana, with Cebollas being an early casualty. 

Another photo from Cebollas IG

His presence during the pharmacy attack, alleged leadership of the FEF, close friendship with Flaquito, and personalized symbolism all point to a central role within the organization. Cebollas is gone—but if one thing can be said about Pablo Edwin Huerta Nuño, known to some as El Flaquito and to others as Flaquito Rata, it’s that he has a way of surviving.

Categories: CAF, cebollas, el flaquito, tijuana