Gangster 'El Toro' Arrested After Stealing 20,000 Liters of Gasoline
Federico, known as "El Toro," a leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación cartel, was arrested in Mexico for stealing 20,000 liters of gasoline. He is also accused of kidnapping, extortion, and murder. The arrest was conducted without violence.
In a major win for law enforcement, the alleged leader of a notorious cell of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) has been captured in León, Mexico. Federico, better known by his infamous alias "El Toro," has been identified as a primary driver of violence in the region. His arrest is a crucial blow to organized crime in the state of Guanajuato, where cartel-related activities have spurred waves of violence and fear among residents.
El Toro, described by officials as a "priority target," has now been formally linked to criminal proceedings for fuel theft, a major issue plaguing the region. Authorities accuse him of masterminding the theft of 20,000 liters of gasoline, siphoned from a clandestine tap into the black market. But his alleged crimes do not stop there—he is also under investigation for a slew of other serious charges, including kidnapping, extortion, and murder.
Coordinated Operation Puts 'El Toro' Behind Bars
In a well-orchestrated operation, local law enforcement and federal security forces finally closed in on El Toro and his network of accomplices. The Secretariat of Security and Peace, in a joint effort with the Attorney General's Office (FGR), confirmed the operation unfolded without a hitch in the Ciudad Industrial neighborhood of León. Federico was caught red-handed as he and another man, identified as Octavio, were allegedly in the process of extracting hydrocarbons from an illegal tap in a pipeline belonging to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
According to the official statement from the Secretariat of Security, the arrests were the result of "effective police procedures" that managed to neutralize the suspects "without the need to use force, despite the dangerousness of the accused." Such a seamless operation speaks volumes about the coordination between local and federal agencies, which had been tracking Federico's movements for months as part of a broader investigation into cartel-linked crimes in the region.
The scale of the operation was staggering. At the crime scene, authorities seized a tractor-trailer, which had been connected to the clandestine tap, along with a pickup truck reported stolen. Inside these vehicles, police found four large containers holding a total of 4,000 litres of stolen gasoline. The vehicles themselves, brazenly fitted with Federal Public Service plates, further underscored the level of sophistication and organization of El Toro's operation.
In total, more than 20,000 litres of fuel were confiscated in what is now being seen as a major blow to the CJNG's local fuel theft operations. This massive haul would have been worth a fortune on the black market, where stolen gasoline is a key revenue stream for criminal groups across Mexico.
The arrest of El Toro marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations. While CJNG is notorious for its brutal tactics and wide-reaching influence, fuel theft—also known as huachicol—has become a vital part of its portfolio of criminal enterprises. These thefts not only deprive Mexico of millions in revenue but also exacerbate violence in regions where cartels vie for control of illegal pipeline taps.
In particular, Guanajuato has become a battleground in recent years, with turf wars between CJNG and rival cartels like the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel (CSRL) causing an uptick in killings, kidnappings, and extortion. The region, known for its rich industrial sector, has been rocked by an unprecedented wave of violence, with innocent civilians often caught in the crossfire.
A Broader Crackdown on Organized Crime?
This high-profile arrest could signal a turning point in the battle against cartel dominance in Guanajuato. While the CJNG has shown itself to be incredibly resilient, El Toro’s capture could disrupt its local operations and curtail the rampant fuel theft that has long plagued the area. The state's security forces, in collaboration with federal agencies, have been ramping up efforts to dismantle cartel cells, targeting not only fuel theft but also drug trafficking, extortion, and other forms of organized crime.
Still, experts caution that El Toro’s arrest may not be enough to halt the CJNG’s activities in the region. Cartels like CJNG are notorious for their ability to quickly regroup and replace arrested leaders with new figures willing to step into the void. However, by removing key operatives like El Toro, authorities hope to gradually erode the cartel’s influence and restore some level of peace to this troubled part of Mexico.
For now, El Toro and his accomplice Octavio are facing serious charges, with federal prosecutors pushing to keep them behind bars as investigations continue. The full scope of their alleged crimes—including possible links to a string of homicides, kidnappings, and extortion schemes—has yet to be fully revealed.
Authorities remain tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation, but sources close to the case suggest that additional arrests could follow as law enforcement officials work to untangle the complex web of criminal activities tied to this powerful cartel figure.
As the case unfolds, residents in León, San Francisco del Rincón, and Purísima del Rincón can only hope that the downfall of El Toro marks the beginning of a sustained effort to reclaim their communities from the grip of organized crime.
