Mexican authorities have arrested a high-ranking member of the Beltrán Leyva cartel, identified only by the alias “SS,” in a major operation conducted in Tijuana. The suspect is believed to be the head of a criminal cell responsible for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine into the United States.
The arrest was part of a coordinated effort between Mexican federal forces and U.S. agencies targeting transnational drug trafficking networks. According to the Southern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office, the cell led by SS was linked to a broader organization that imported and distributed over a ton of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Authorities say SS played a key role in managing logistics, overseeing drug shipments, and laundering proceeds through shell companies and illicit financial networks. His capture marks a significant blow to the Beltrán Leyva cartel, which has maintained operations despite previous leadership losses.
The Beltrán Leyva cartel, originally part of the Sinaloa cartel, has been involved in violent turf wars and high-volume narcotics trafficking. Though Mexican officials had previously declared the group dismantled, recent investigations by U.S. agencies suggest the cartel remains active and influential, particularly in northern Mexico.
SS’s arrest follows a broader crackdown that led to the indictment of 22 individuals in March 2025, many of whom were based in Mexicali, Calexico, and other U.S. cities. The group is accused not only of drug trafficking but also of attempting to smuggle firearms from the U.S. into Mexico.
Authorities are continuing investigations to dismantle remaining cells and trace the financial networks supporting the cartel’s operations. SS is expected to face extradition proceedings and multiple federal charges in the United States.
Source: IMPARCIAL
