Mexico Navy captures 'R2', a top Jalisco cartel commander

Rafael Alvarez, known by the alias “R2,” is now in custody after Mexican forces arrested him in the city of Zapopan on Sunday. The operation targeted a specific cell within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, a group that competes with the Sinaloa Cartel for control of drug routes to the United States. Alvarez is suspected of leading the “Los Rs” faction, which authorities say focused on extortion, kidnapping, and violence against local officials.

The seizure resulted from intelligence provided by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Mexico’s Navy, along with the National Intelligence Center, executed the raid. During the operation, a shootout erupted, leaving Alvarez wounded. He is currently receiving medical care. Nineteen other individuals were captured in the same action. Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that the group’s victims included business owners and avocado producers.

Alvarez holds an outstanding domestic arrest warrant for aggravated homicide. He also faces an extradition warrant from the United States. Investigators link him to the deaths of at least 19 people. Among those is Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacan state, who was murdered last year. Manzo had been known for his aggressive stance against local crime.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel operates primarily in the states of Jalisco and Michoacan. The US government designated it a foreign terrorist organization in 2025. The group is known for violent tactics and attacks on security forces. Since the death of founder Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” in a military operation in February, several of his top lieutenants have been apprehended.

Jalisco records the highest number of disappearances in the country. An estimated 134,000 people are believed to be missing across Mexico. Reports of kidnapping for ransom continue in areas where these cartels maintain a strong presence.