Mexico Arrests Gang Leader Known for Escalating Violence in the State of Guanajuato

time ^ | August 2, 2020 12:28 PM EDT | Mark Stevenson

[BenLurkin]

Mexican police and military forces on Sunday arrested the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima gang who spread violence through north-central Mexico and fought a years-long bloody turf battle with the Jalisco cartel.

The armed forces and officials in the state of Guanajuato said they had captured José Antonio Yépez Ortiz, better known by his nickname “El Marro,” which means “The Sledgehammer.”

Yépez Ortiz was unusual among gang leaders because he posted videos with emotional calls to his followers, including one in June showing him appearing to cry after several of his supporters and relatives were arrested. In another video around the same time, he threatened to join forces with the Sinaloa cartel to defeat Jalisco, Mexico’s fastest-rising drug cartel.

The turf battle with Jalisco turned the industrial hub of Guanajuato, with its foreign auto plants and parts suppliers, into the most violent state in Mexico, with 2,293 murders in the first six months of this year. The Santa Rosa gang has been blamed by some observers for the July attack on a drug rehabilitation center in the city of Irapuato in which 27 men were killed.

But Mexico’s top civilian security official, Alfonso Durazo, said Yépez Ortiz would be charged with organized crime and fuel theft, not murder.

[SharpRightTurn]

“The turf battle with Jalisco turned the industrial hub of Guanajuato, with its foreign auto plants and parts suppliers, into the most violent state in Mexico, with 2,293 murders in the first six months of this year.”

“Mostly peaceful.”

[KC Burke]

Used to be a great area. Leon, Irapuatro, Silao. Guanajuato, San Miguel Allende and the other towns in the area were a great bunch of variety 30 years ago. Spent a couple of weeks there with the primo family of the state. Great history, great opportunity and great people that really liked the USA. Corrupt Social Democracy ruined it all.

[Tupelo]

José Antonio Yépez Ortiz may be a murderous drug cartel kingpin but I betcha, he has better ethics than at least 90% of Washington, District of Corruption politicians, I betcha.

[rrrod]

Agree!

[billorites]

My guess is that the cities of Guanajuato and San Miguel Allende are still relatively quiet as they're predominantly tourist towns. Guanajuato holds a place in Mexican psyches analogous to Lexington, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge in American minds. The largest city in Guanajuato State is Leon. That's where industry and the international airport are located.

I could be very comfortable living in Guanajuato. It's a friendly, crazy, 3-dimensional city.

[catnipman]

““Mostly peaceful.””

exactly ... after all, look at how many millions WEREN’T murdered ...

[KC Burke]

actually the auto plant is not in Leon. Silao and Irauatro are more the industrial destinations as I recall. Leon is the business, population and economic hub the way I saw it.