Regional Leader of Carteles Unidos Allegedly Captured in Los Reyes, Michoacan

“Enojon” for Borderland Beat

(Photograph of Wiliam Alvarez ‘El Maniaco’)

Around January 15th, footage circulated through social media allegedly showing people protesting the arrest of Wiliam Alvarez ‘El Maniaco,’ a lieutenant of ‘Carteles Unidos,’ in Los Reyes, Michoacan. Local reports claimed multiple blockades were placed while supporters of the criminal organization would confront security forces pressuring his release, although Alverez himself would respond to these allegations.

According to the news publication Red Michoacan, personnel of the Mexican Military and National Guard were conducting patrols in the Santa Rosa community when a car chase with a suspect began and led to a shooting taking place near the San Gabriel community. Shortly after, local residents would protest the operation over what they deemed to be an unjust arrest, claiming authorities had fired at an unarmed suspect and asking why their presence is needed when conflicts are raging elsewhere. A translation is as follows:

(Multiple videos showing the response of local residents and security forces to the incident)

Woman: You can’t be spoken with because later you want to start shooting, we’re [hardworking] people but you start shooting, we’re unarmed, and you come with bad intentions.

GN: Yes ma’am but tell me, you think it’s right to accumulate people here and tell [lies]?

Woman: Yes because there’s a video of you shooting at the vehicle that’s why.

GN: There are videos?

Woman: Yes.

GN: Do you have them?

Woman: No but they’ll be [shown] from the street cameras.

Man:…There’s no war here there’s nothing so where are you going? The war is in other places.

Woman: Unintelligible

Man: You’re needed in other places.

GN: Please, can I speak with…

Woman: Yes..

Man: There are no [dead bodies] here, there’s nothing.

GN: Tell them to leave.”

Makeshift blockades would be reported along multiple points of the Peribán – Jacona highway in a presumed attempt to place pressure against authorities to release the unidentified suspect but would be removed later in the day and an increased presence of security personnel in the region would be implemented. The Attorney General’s Office of Michoacan did not publicly disclose any information on the incident.

(Alvarez’s response to the allegations of his arrest)

The day after, Alvarez would directly respond to claims surrounding his alleged capture by posting a screenshot of a Telegram message reporting the incident with a laughing emoji. Although the message appears to have originated from the Mexicanbelik Telegram chat, we were unable to confirm the origin of the message.

Alvarez would be identified as the lieutenant of Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez ‘El R5’ or ‘Wicho/Güicho de los Reyes,’ a regional leader of Carteles Unidos in Los Reyes. He would play a role in fighting incursions by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) that are led by ‘El Delta Maximo,’ the alleged former bodyguard of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes ‘El Mencho,’ into Michoacan for control of what is deemed strategic territory.

Sources: Hyperlinked In Text

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