CIUDAD JUÁREZ, CHIHUAHUA — In a chilling revelation, Mexican and U.S. authorities have dismantled a baby trafficking ring allegedly led by Martha Alicia Méndez Aguilar, known as “La Diabla,” a high-ranking operative of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The arrest occurred on September 2, 2025, following a joint intelligence operation involving federal forces and U.S. agencies.
La Diabla is accused of orchestrating a gruesome scheme targeting vulnerable pregnant women, often from impoverished backgrounds. According to investigators, these women were lured to remote locations under lies and pretenses. Once there, CJNG operatives allegedly performed illegal cesarean sections, resulting in the death of the mothers. Authorities also suspect organ harvesting in some cases.
The newborns were then trafficked through dark web channels and smuggled into illicit adoption markets, with some reportedly ending up in the United States. The scale of the operation remains under investigation, but early estimates suggest dozens of victims over the past two years.
La Diabla was apprehended in Ciudad Juárez, a city long plagued by cartel violence and human trafficking. Her arrest marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to combat organized crime and protect vulnerable populations. “The lives of innocent women and children depended on her arrest,” said a spokesperson from the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center.
Authorities are now working to identify surviving victims and dismantle the remaining network. The case has sparked outrage across Mexico and renewed calls for stronger protections for women and children, as well as deeper cross-border cooperation in fighting human trafficking.
Source: Proceso
