In a joint operation, federal forces arrested Omar Félix Loaiza, known as 'El Pelón' or 'El 8', leader of the criminal group 'La Chapiza' and ally of 'Los Chapitos' in the state of Sonora and in the desert region of Altar, bordering the United States.
According to the Secretariats of the Navy (Semar) and Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), the arrest took place in Culiacán, Sinaloa, where Félix Loaiza had taken refuge to support 'Los Chapitos' in confrontations against 'Los Mayos'. An arrest warrant was executed for crimes of organized crime, drug trafficking, trafficking of weapons and people. He was considered responsible for the use of drones with explosives in attacks against authorities and rival groups.
Authorities revealed that Félix Loaiza was planning new attacks with explosive drones in the coming days, which motivated his capture. A joint mobile surveillance operation was deployed involving the Attorney General's Office (FGR), Secretary of National Defense (Defensa), National Guard, Semar, and SSPC.
'El Pelón' was also identified as a generator of violence in Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California, leading the trafficking of drugs, migrants, and weapons into the United States. He was being investigated for the production and commercialization of fentanyl, as well as kidnapping and extortion.
Since his arrival in Culiacán in mid-September, Félix Loaiza had been coordinating the confrontations of 'Los Chapitos' against the rivals 'Los Mayos'. He maintained an alliance with 'El Duranguillo', leader of the group 'Los Deltas' in Sonora, facing Los Cazadores and Los Salazar for control of trafficking routes in the Altar-Sásabe region.
Following his capture, 'El Pelón' was presented before a federal judge to face the charges against him.
