Former Uruapan official, taxi driver arrested for providing intel on mayor’s movements before assassination

Security Minister Omar García Harfuch connected Sunday announced 2 further arrests successful transportation with the Nov. 1 assassination of Uruapan politician Carlos Manzo.

Samuel García Rivero, a erstwhile manager of nationalist relations and protocol successful the Uruapan municipal government, and Josué Elogio “N,” a taxi driver, were detained successful Uruapan precocious past week, according to accusation García Harfuch presented astatine a property conference.

The information curate said it had been established that the 2 men communicated astir Manzo’s docket and movements earlier the politician was changeable successful the cardinal quadrate of Michoacán’s second-largest metropolis during a Day of the Dead event.

He besides said that the 2 suspects person ties to the transgression radical accused of orchestrating the execution of the mayor, namely the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The 2 men allegedly became alert of the program to execution Manzo 2 weeks earlier the outspoken anti-crime crusader was killed. Warrants for their arrests had been issued connected homicide charges.

More than a twelve different radical are successful custody successful transportation with the assassination, including Jorge Armando “N,” an alleged mastermind of the crime. The idiosyncratic who really killed Manzo — a 17-year-old alleged meth addict identified arsenic Víctor Manuel Ubaldo — was changeable dormant astatine the country by 1 of the mayor’s bodyguards aft helium had been apprehended.

García Harfuch said that García Rivero — who has a anterior transgression grounds — provided accusation to Josué Elogio “N” astir Manzo’s movements connected Nov. 1, and that accusation was sent to a WhatsApp radical that was “led” by Jorge Armando “N” and utilized to program and coordinate the execution of the mayor.

“For example, [García Rivero] told him astir the mayor’s delays [and] the clip astatine which helium would permission the Casa de la Cultura [building successful Uruapan],” helium said.

García Harfuch besides said that García Rivero had maintained interaction with Ramiro “N,” who authorities accidental belonged to the WhatsApp radical that was utilized to program and coordinate the execution of Manzo. Ramiro “N” and different antheral allegedly progressive successful the assassination were recovered dormant connected Nov. 10 connected the Uruapan-Paracho road successful Michoacán.

García Harfuch said that aft the apprehension of the 2 men successful Uruapan past Thursday and Friday, authorities conducted searches astatine properties linked to them, seizing drugs and “communication equipment” that “has provided much grounds to proceed with the ongoing investigation.”

The brazen assassination of Manzo attracted much attraction than immoderate different azygous execution committed successful Mexico successful 2025.

It shocked a federation that has been somewhat numbed by galore years of relentless violence, triggering protests and precipitating the instauration of a large “peace and justice” program for Michoacán.

In 3 weeks, Plan Michoacán reduced homicides successful the authorities by 50%

Manzo’s wife, Grecia Quiroz, was sworn successful arsenic politician of Uruapan conscionable a fewer days aft her hubby was killed.

All the arrests successful the Manzo case 

Fifteen radical are present successful custody successful transportation with the execution of Carlos Manzo.

• Jorge Armando “N,” known arsenic “El Licenciado” (The Graduate) was arrested successful Morelia, the superior of Michoacán, connected Nov. 18. García Harfuch said connected Nov. 19 that helium had been identified arsenic “one of the masterminds” of Manzo’s execution arsenic good arsenic “one of the leaders of the transgression compartment that planned the homicide.”
• Ricardo “N,” a taxi operator who allegedly picked up radical progressive successful the onslaught aft it occurred, is besides successful custody.
• Seven of Manzo’s municipal constabulary bodyguards were arrested connected Nov. 21 “for their probable information successful the transgression of aggravated homicide” against Manzo.
• Jaciel Antonio “N,” an alleged CJNG recruiter known arsenic “El Pelón” (Baldy), was arrested connected Nov. 23. He allegedly recruited Víctor Manuel Ubaldo, Manzo’s murderer, astatine a cause rehabilitation center.
• Gerardo “N” and Flor “N,” suspects who allegedly collaborated with the transgression compartment liable for Manzo’s murder, were arrested successful aboriginal December.
• Alejandro Baruc “N,” an alleged person of a CJNG cell, was detained successful transportation with Manzo’s assassination connected Dec. 30.
• Samuel García Rivero, the erstwhile municipal official, was arrested past week. He has antecedently been convicted connected battle and robbery charges.
• Josué Elogio “N,” the taxi operator who allegedly received accusation astir Manzo’s movements, was arrested past week. He is besides known arsenic “El Viejito” (The aged man).
• Yesenia Méndez Rodríguez, Manzo’s idiosyncratic secretary, was arrested past Thursday but released a fewer hours later. She doesn’t presently look immoderate transgression charges. Méndez has been serving arsenic Quiroz’s idiosyncratic caput since she assumed the mayorship of Uruapan.

With reports from Reforma, El Universal, La Jornada and Milenio