Mexico, Jalisco cartel narco-tunnel engineer arrested

Mexican security forces have arrested Luis Manuel N., alias "El Ingeniero", accused of designing and building underground tunnels on the border with the United States, used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Cjng) for drug trafficking. This was reported by the federal authorities, cited by the Mexican media.

The man was stopped in Zapopan, in the state of Jalisco, during an operation conducted by the National Guard and the Army, in coordination with the federal prosecutor's office. According to the Ministry of Defense, he was a key operator of the cartel and acted under the direct orders of Juan Carlos Valencia González, alias "El 03" or "El Pelón", designated as the new head of the organization after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", last February.

The tunnels, used to introduce drugs into the United States, were concentrated mainly in the Tijuana area, in the state of Baja California. Charges of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking are also pending against Luis Manuel N. in the United States. During the arrest, weapons, drugs and a vehicle were seized.