A Blow to the Caborca Cartel! 'El Cara de Cochi,' Wanted in the U.S. for Fentanyl, Is Captured

“Sol Prendido” for Borderland Beat 

How did one of the most wanted operatives of the Caborca ​​Cartel manage to hide in one of the State of Mexico’s most exclusive destinations? In the early hours of October 10, a stealthy deployment of federal forces and state authorities shattered the tranquility of Avándaro. Eight people were captured at the scene, but the priority target was Jesús Darío Murrieta Navarro, known by the alias “Cara de Cochi” (Pig-Face). 

Thanks to military intelligence efforts, authorities managed to locate him hundreds of kilometers from his base of operations, despite an outstanding arrest warrant against him in the state of Sonora. “Cara de Cochi” was no ordinary operative; security reports identify him as a key figure in “La Barredora 247,” the violent armed wing of the Caborca ​​Cartel. 

Although recent military reports classify him as a key member, earlier investigations by prosecutors indicate that he once fully led this shock unit. His rise within the Sonoran underworld gained momentum following the 2022 capture of Rafael Caro Quintero. With the founder behind bars, control of the cartel fell to his nephew, Rodrigo Omar Páez Quintero—alias “LR”—who appointed Jesús Darío as his most trusted lieutenant. 

The criminal reach of this cell extended beyond Sonora, crossing the border into the United States. Since July 2019, a federal district court in Arizona has pursued a formal case against him on three serious charges related to a conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Meanwhile, “LR” was captured in Jalisco in April 2023 and ultimately extradited to U.S. soil in July 2024, where he faces ten criminal charges related to drug trafficking. 

However, the dossier on “Cara de Coche” reveals even more complex alliances. According to commanders from the First Region and the 22nd Military Zone, the detainee also began working for Carlos Alberto Páez Pereda—alias “Carlitos Rugrats”—the leader of the “Rugrats” group, who has been accused of drug trafficking by U.S. authorities. 

His cell operates as the logistical arm of “Los Mayos”—one of the Sinaloa Cartel’s most powerful factions—handling the movement of methamphetamine in Sinaloa, Tijuana, and Baja California. This strategic trafficking route connects Culiacán directly to the California border, passing through Sonora, the territory where the Caborca ​​Cartel is waging a bloody war against “Los Chapitos.” Do you think this arrest will reduce violence in Sonora or escalate the conflict between rival factions?

Sources: Milenio,  Sonora Noticia