Mexican authorities dealt with a major blow to the Gulf Cartel structure with the capture of one of its regional leaders, identified as Jose Ignacio Vega Ruiz, alias “Nacho Vega”.

According to a statement issued by the Mexican Security Cabinet, this criminal leader had an arrest warrant in the United States on drug trafficking charges.

According to the document, the detainee was a financial operator for the cartel whose base of operations is the state of Tamaulipas.

He was also the head of the Scorpions and Cyclones cells of the criminal group, dedicated to criminal activities such as kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking.

At the time of his capture, agents seized two rifles, a magazine, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.

Authorities' reports reveal that this criminal has an arrest warrant in the Southern District of Texas for conspiracy, distribution, and smuggling of drugs, as well as operating a criminal enterprise.

Official sources confirmed to EFE that the detainee was also in charge of money laundering and is the brother-in-law of Jose Alfredo Cardenas Martinez, alias “El "Accountant," another dangerous criminal.

The Gulf Cartel was designated by President Donald Trump as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025, along with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, La Familia Michoacana, and Carteles Unidos.