El Congo, member of the criminal group that murdered Carlos Manzo, arrested

On Monday, the Security Cabinet reported the arrest in Michoacán of Gerardo Rodríguez, alias El Congo, a member of the criminal group that organized and carried out the murder of Carlos Manzo. Mayor of Uruapan, the heart of the powerful avocado agribusiness, Manzo was killed on November 1 in the town square, shot dead in the middle of a Day of the Dead celebration. In recent months, authorities have captured more than a dozen people in connection with the attack, although the motive for the murder remains unknown. Although he was part of the group that orchestrated the attack, led by Jorge Armando Gómez, alias El Licenciado, who has already been arrested, El Congo was not part of the conspiracy to kill Manzo. Linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), El Licenciado's group had interests in the Uruapan area. The Security Cabinet describes El Congo as “the coordinator of extortion and protection rackets targeting avocado and lemon producers, as well as kidnappings and murders in the region.” In addition, the alleged criminal “also headed a cell of CJNG hitmen.” The capture of El Congo thus further dismantles the criminal structure that organized the attack against the mayor. In addition to El Licenciado, Alejandro Baruc, alias Kaos, leader of a violent cell operating in the region involved in homicides, extortion, and drug trafficking, has also been captured, according to Security Cabinet Coordinator Omar García Harfuch in early February. Kaos is believed to have been El Licenciado's right-hand man in the attack on Manzo. The authorities have also captured Ricardo N, a taxi driver who helped the perpetrators of the attack flee after committing it. There are three people involved: one who fired the shots and two others who were with him. The gunman was Víctor Ubaldo N, a 17-year-old methamphetamine addict who was killed by Manzo's bodyguards, who are now in custody and charged with “homicide by commission by omission, as guarantors,” an expression that implies the defendants' alleged lack of expertise in protecting the victim. The gunman's companions, Ramiro N, 34, and Fernando Josue N, 16, were found dead days after the attack. The authorities have also arrested Jaciel N, who is believed to be subordinate to El Licenciado and Kaos. Jaciel N is the alleged recruiter of two of the three hitmen. Also in custody are taxi driver José Eulogio N and Samuel N, director of Public Relations and Protocol in Uruapan, who provided information on the mayor's whereabouts on the day of the murder. Two weeks ago, the Michoacán Attorney General's Office also reported the arrest of three individuals linked to the attack in the municipality of Tarímbaro, very close to Morelia, the state capital. State Attorney General Carlos Torres did not provide details on the extent of the three individuals' involvement in the attack, although he did indicate that they were part of El Licenciado's criminal organization.