Drug Trafficking Blow: 'El Flaquito', Boss of the Arellano Félix Gang, Arrested

Federal authorities dealt a severe blow to the Arellano Félix Cartel with the arrest of Pablo Edwin "N," alias "El Flaquito," identified as the current leader of the historic criminal organization operating in Tijuana, Baja California.

The capture of "El Flaquito" represents one of the highest-profile arrests in the fight against drug trafficking along the northern border in recent months. The operation, carried out in the city of Tijuana, culminated in the arrest of a man known for his ability to evade authorities and rival groups.

Pablo Edwin "N" is identified by Mexican and U.S. security agencies as a key figure in the reconfiguration of the Arellano Félix Cartel (CAF). Following the fall and capture of the Arellano Félix brothers, the organization fragmented, but "El Flaquito" reportedly managed to consolidate power, maintaining control of important drug trafficking routes to the United States.

His nickname, according to intelligence sources, is due to his ability to be "elusive," managing to escape multiple operations against him and surviving attacks by enemy cartels seeking to take over Tijuana, one of the most coveted drug trafficking centers due to its proximity to California.

The arrest comes amid rising violence in Baja California. The state has seen an increase of more than 20% in the number of missing persons in the last year, placing it among the five states with the highest increase nationwide.

The struggle for territorial control between the CAF (Argentine Confederation of Federations of the Federation of Criminals), the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has unleashed a wave of violence that directly affects the population. The capture of a leader of this caliber could generate two scenarios: a temporary decrease in violence due to the weakening of the organization, or a worsening of disputes due to the resulting power vacuum.

The arrest of "El Flaquito" follows other significant blows against organized crime in various parts of the country, such as the recent seizure of more than a ton of cocaine by the Navy in Michoacán or the arrest of the "huachicol queen" of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato.

These operations, while important, also demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of criminal organizations. Authorities are now focused on the judicial process against "El Flaquito" and containing the potential backlash his capture could unleash on the streets of Tijuana.