Mexican authorities arrested Remigio Valdez Lao, alias “Milo,” identified as the alleged financial operator and logistics coordinator of an international criminal organization known as the Cuban-American Mafia, was arrested as part of bilateral cooperation between Mexico and the United States on security and combating organized crime. According to the Mexican Security Cabinet, Valdez Lao is wanted on an extradition order to the United States for crimes related to human trafficking and organized crime. His arrest took place in the Residencial Arbolada subdivision in the municipality of Benito Juarez, an urban area near the tourist destination of Cancun. The operation involved members of the Mexican Navy, the National Defense Secretariat, the National Guard, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, as well as state authorities. Joseline Garcia Biscaino, an alleged member of the same criminal group, was also arrested during the operation. Authorities seized 38 doses of marijuana and a gray pickup truck from both individuals, which were turned over to the Public Prosecutor's Office. After confirming his identity, Valdez Lao was transferred by air to Mexico City (central Mexico), where the extradition process will continue.

International Criminal Network

According to various investigations and media reports, the organization to which “Milo” is linked has been operating in countries such as Cuba, Mexico, the United States, and Spain for more than a decade. U.S. authorities have identified this group as a structure dedicated to migrant trafficking and extortion, especially of Cuban citizens in transit through Mexican territory.

News reports indicate that the criminal network charged up to $10,000 per person to facilitate illegal crossings into the United States.using routes that crossed southeastern Mexico toward the northern border. According to Mexican authorities, Valdez Lao's arrest would be a blow to the operational and financial capacity of this organization. The case comes amid growing pressure from Washington to strengthen actions against drug trafficking and human trafficking. Since Donald Trump's return to the White House, the bilateral relationship has been marked by security demands, including threats of trade measures and questions about the flow of drugs such as fentanyl. In response, the Mexican government has intensified joint operations and intelligence actions. As part of these strategies, since February 2025, more than 12,700 people have been arrested and more than 133 tons of drugs have been seized at the northern border, according to official figures. The eventual extradition of “Milo” could represent a new step in the collaboration between both countries to dismantle transnational criminal networks. This arrest sends a direct message to the organizations that profit from the migration crisis in the Caribbean corridor, a key route for organized crime that now faces an unprecedented binational intelligence operation. Valdez Lao is expected to appear before a federal court in the Southern District of Florida in the coming weeks.Valdez Lao is expected to appear before a federal court in the Southern District of Florida in the coming weeks.Valdez Lao is expected to appear before a federal court in the Southern District of Florida in the coming weeks.