El 18, Notorious Sinaloa Cartel Leader, Nabbed in Cancún for Heinous Crime
Óscar Melchor "N", alias El 18, alleged leader of a Sinaloa Cartel faction in Cancún, was arrested in Saltillo for qualified homicide. He's accused of dismembering a victim and setting the body on fire in 2021. Meanwhile, Cancún is plagued by violence, with four armed attacks in 24 hours.
Cancún, once renowned for its pristine beaches and a haven for sun-seeking tourists, is now grappling with an alarming surge in violence that has left its residents on edge and authorities scrambling to contain the escalating situation. In a disturbing series of events, criminal factions, particularly those linked to the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, have tightened their grip on the city, pushing Cancún into a state of near-constant fear and insecurity.
One of the most significant recent developments in the city’s ongoing battle with crime came with the high-profile arrest of Óscar Melchor “N,” better known as "El 18," a feared leader of a Sinaloa Cartel faction operating in Cancún. El 18 was apprehended in Saltillo, Coahuila, and transferred to Quintana Roo in connection with the brutal dismemberment and murder of a victim whose identity has not been disclosed. The heinous crime, committed in the Alfredo V. Bonfil ejido on April 19, 2021, involved the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the victim, whose remains were burned in a vehicle.
