Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), announced the detention of the leader of a criminal organization in Apatzingán, Michoacán, on Wednesday morning. The detainee was identified as Gerardo Valencia Barajas, known as "La Silla," who led a gang dedicated to extorting lime and avocado producers in the region.
García Harfuch detailed that Gerardo N was involved in extortions of local farmers and is linked to cases of kidnapping and murder of agents of the Attorney General's Office. The criminal leader also operated under the criminal cell "Los Blancos de Troya" in Apatzingán and was responsible for several serious crimes in the area.
In the same operation, security forces detained Joana Lizbeth Sepúlveda Valencia, a member of the criminal organization, and seized a firearm and various types of drugs. According to authorities, Valencia had connections to extortions and violent crimes committed in the region.
