Mexico confirms killing of Los Reyes cartel leader in Michoacan - Anadolu Ajansı

Mexican authorities have confirmed the killing of Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, alias "R5" or "El Wicho," identified as the leader of the Los Reyes cartel, during a security operation in the western state of Michoacan.

"We confirm that there is an operation, there is a significant deployment in the area, by both the Secretariat of National Defense and our Civil Guard, National Guard, and this operation was carried out in Los Reyes," Ramirez Bedolla said during a press conference.

The Defense Ministry said Barragan was killed Sunday night during an operation in the municipality of Tocumbo following intelligence work by the military's XII Military Region.

Security forces came under fire during the operation and responded, killing Barragan and another person accompanying him, according to the ministry.

Authorities seized two automatic rifles, ammunition, magazines and an all-terrain vehicle.

Mexican authorities said Barragan took over as leader of the Los Reyes cartel after authorities captured Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, alias "Poncho," in August.

The cartel operates mainly in the municipalities of Los Reyes, Periban and Tocumbo in western Michoacan, near the border with the neighboring state of Jalisco, according to local reports.

Mexican authorities have identified Barragan as a key coordinator of extortion targeting avocado producers in Michoacan.

The US government had also targeted Barragan. The Treasury Department sanctioned him in August 2025, identifying him as a regional leader of Carteles Unidos involved in avocado-related extortion.

The US State Department had offered a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction, according to Mexican and US reports.

The killing comes weeks after Mexican authorities arrested Fernandez, the previous leader of the Los Reyes cartel.

Michoacan, a major agricultural state in western Mexico, has faced persistent violence linked to disputes among criminal groups over territory, drug trafficking and extortion.

US authorities have said criminal organizations in Michoacan routinely extort farmers and others involved in the production and export of agricultural products, particularly avocados.

The latest operation is part of a broader Mexican government campaign against organized crime in Michoacan.