State security officials in Chihuahua reported the arrests of two alleged criminal leaders and 36 members of organized crime groups in the border municipality of Ojinaga as part of an ongoing strategy to weaken violent networks across the state.
The Secretaría de Seguridad Pública del Estado, led by Gilberto Loya, said the arrests are part of a broader effort targeting individuals identified as generators of violence, with the goal of disrupting criminal command structures and reducing their operational capacity.
Loya said the state’s approach integrates both public safety and roadway security as part of a unified strategy focused on prevention and enforcement to improve overall security conditions.
Authorities have prioritized dismantling leadership structures within criminal organizations, resulting in the capture of key figures in multiple municipalities, which officials say directly impacts the groups’ ability to organize, operate and control territory.
As an example, officials cited an April 2, 2026, interagency operation that led to the arrest of Fernando C. S., identified as a regional criminal leader. Six individuals were detained in that operation, including a minor, highlighting what authorities described as the early recruitment practices of criminal groups.
During the operation, authorities seized high-powered firearms chambered in 7.62×39 mm, approximately 1,770 rounds of ammunition, tactical gear and vehicles without license plates, indicating clandestine operational methods.
Loya said the arrest represents a direct blow to the group’s operational capacity and underscores ongoing disputes for territorial control in the region.
Across the state, officials reported additional enforcement results. In Guachochi, 25 alleged members of criminal groups have been detained, while in Ciudad Juárez authorities reported the capture of seven alleged leaders and 418 suspected members of criminal organizations.
In Ojinaga, the arrests of two leaders and 36 members were described as significantly weakening criminal operations along border corridors and trafficking routes.
Meanwhile, in Guadalupe y Calvo, authorities reported the detention of 10 individuals linked to criminal cells operating in the Sierra Tarahumara region.
Loya said the arrests reflect a sustained strategy to dismantle organized crime by targeting high-impact individuals and disrupting operational bases across Chihuahua.
