Confirman el abatimiento de “El Güicho”, líder del cártel de “Los Reyes”, en Michoacán

The Mexican Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Tuesday that Luis Enrique Barragán Chávez, alias “El Güicho” or “R5,” identified as the leader of the “Los Reyes” cartel, an organization dedicated to drug trafficking and extortion of agricultural producers, was killed during an operation in the municipality of Tocumbo, Michoacán. In a statement, the ministry explained that, based on intelligence work by the 12th Military Region, on the night of August 30, personnel from the Mexican Army and the National Guard, in coordination with the Mexican Navy, the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection, and the Michoacán Civil Guard, planned and executed a precision operation in the Rodeo del Pinal ranchería in Tocumbo to arrest “El Güicho.” The ministry detailed that, during the operation, military personnel were attacked with gunfire, and in self-defense, they returned fire. Barragán Chávez and one of his bodyguards died at the scene. Following the confrontation, authorities seized two automatic rifles, ammunition and magazines of various calibers, as well as an ATV. According to authorities, Barragán Chávez replaced Alfonso Fernández Magallón, alias "La Quiringua," as leader of the "Los Reyes" cartel. Fernández Magallón was arrested on August 1. Barragán Chávez was subject to a provisional arrest warrant for extradition to the United States. The U.S. State Department had also offered a $3 million reward for information leading to his arrest. The bodies of the deceased and the seized evidence were turned over to the State Attorney General's Office, the National Defense Secretariat stated.