Alleged Cartel Leader Arrested in Mexico

Security forces in Mexico have apprehended an alleged leader of a notorious cartel. The individual is accused by the United States of drug trafficking and large-scale fuel smuggling. Authorities announced the arrest on Tuesday.

Ivan Cazarin Molina, known as “El Tanque,” was captured on Monday in the town of Zapopan in Jalisco state. This was confirmed by security minister Omar Garcia Harfuch in a social media post.

Mexican authorities state that Molina is the alleged regional leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). They accuse him of operating a major fuel theft network and being linked to homicides, kidnappings, and drug trafficking. Molina is also accused of involvement in a 2015 attack on a Mexican Army helicopter in Jalisco, which resulted in the deaths of Army and Federal Police members.

Omar Garcia Harfuch shared several images of Molina’s arrest by National Guard members, showing him in handcuffs.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Molina in September 2024, alleging his connection to the inner circle of “El Mencho,” a notable Jalisco cartel leader who was later killed during a military operation.

The Treasury reported that while Molina is mainly involved in fuel theft, he also participates in drug trafficking, extortion, and homicide. His fuel theft operation is believed to generate tens of millions of dollars yearly for himself and the CJNG.

U.S. authorities claim Molina manages a network of seemingly legitimate retail gas stations where he sells stolen fuel. Accusations suggest he sells this fuel to third parties in Mexico, which is then sold in the U.S., often in Texas.

Fuel theft, known as “huachicol” in Mexico, has become the second most profitable revenue stream for Mexican cartels, trailing only behind drug trafficking, as per the U.S. Treasury.

According to the Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in 2025, fuel theft and crude oil smuggling are critical revenue streams for CJNG. These operations allow the group to fund their activities in Mexico and the United States.

CJNG, one of Mexico’s most influential criminal organizations, is among eight cartels labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. In a bid to capture its new leader, Juan Carlos González, the California-born stepson of “El Mencho,” the State Department has offered a $25 million reward for relevant information.