One of the most notorious cartel leaders in Mexico, José Alberto García Vilano, also known as "La Kena" and "Cyclone 19," one of the leaders of the notorious Gulf Cartel, is finally caught in the state of Nuevo Leon. He is the Gulf Cartel leader whose criminal organization was allegedly responsible for the deaths of two American tourists last year.

Mexico Public Safety officials revealed that "La Kena" was arrested last Thursday, and this was confirmed by Mexico's National Arrest Registry. He was reportedly taken into custody after authorities acted on a tip that revealed where the drug lord had been hiding.

He was reportedly captured by Mexican Marines, as confirmed by the Mexican Navy, which announced that "one of the key leaders of one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Tamaulipas" was arrested by Marines. That same person was also "one of the main targets of the Drug Enforcement Administration."

According to The New York Post, "La Kena" was reportedly captured at a local high-end shopping mall in one of Mexico's wealthiest towns, San Pedro Garza Garcia, located on the outskirts of Monterrey. This was confirmed by that town's mayor, Miguel Treviño, on social media.

"Thanks to good intelligence, coordination, and police monitoring, today an alleged criminal leader was arrested without a single shot," the mayor wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Notorious Gulf Cartel Leader 'La Kena' Had $150,000 Reward Over Capture

Before his arrest in Nuevo Leon, prosecutors in Tamaulipas offered a $150,000 reward for his arrest back in 2022. Also known as "Cyclone 19," the notorious leader led the "Cyclones" faction of the now-divided Gulf cartel.

READ NEXT: Americans Who Were Kidnapped by Gulf Cartel in Mexico Detail Harrowing Experience

However, it remains uncertain if that cash reward will be handed out after the arrest was made, as Garcia Villano remained one of the most elusive drug cartel leaders in Mexico for several years.

Much like the Sinaloa Cartel, the Gulf Cartel, or Cartel del Golfo, is a fractured one. While the Sinaloa Cartel is divided into the "Los Chapitos" and "El Mayo" factions, the Gulf Cartel is known to be much more splintered, with several factions including the "Cyclones" and the "Scorpions." However, these groups are all known to mainly operate in Tamaulipas.

Gulf Cartel Gained International Infamy Over Kidnapping of 4 Americans and Deaths of 2 of Them

The Gulf Cartel became even more notorious thanks to the infamous 2023 incident where their "Scorpions" faction caused an international incident shot at four American tourists, kidnapped them, and the incident leading to the deaths of two of the American tourists and one innocent bystander in Matamoros, Tamaulipas.

The reason why the Gulf Cartel attacked the group of Americans is not clear. However, authorities in Mexico theorized that they may have been mistaken for rival cartel members or, rather, Haitian drug mules working for rival cartels.

The cartel members shot at the vehicle the American tourists were driving, hitting some of them before their truck finally stopped. From there, members of the cartel forced those inside out and took them away. The hostages were freed by Mexican authorities, but it was too late for two of those who were shot.

READ MORE: Mexico Kidnapping: Mourners Gathered for American Man Killed by the Gulf Cartel

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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