Omar Felix Loaiza, also known as 'El Pelón' or 'El 08', leader of hitmen linked to 'Los Chapitos' in Sonora, has been arrested by the Armed Forces of Mexico. 'El Pelón' was a collaborator of Iván Archivaldo and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, sons of Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán. With multiple arrest warrants and considered a plaza chief in Sonoyta, Sonora, a border area with the U.S., he was captured in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in the Las Quintas neighborhood.
This action is seen as an act of betrayal in drug trafficking circles and highlights the ongoing conflict and reconfiguration of power in Mexican cartels. Recent revelations point to 'Los Chapitos' playing a crucial role in handing over Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada to U.S. authorities last July. Despite efforts to dismantle 'Los Chapitos', this faction of the Sinaloa Cartel remains a global threat. 'El Pelón' was transferred to Mexico City to face legal charges, according to reports from 'Milenio'.
The detention of 'El Pelón' underscores the ongoing collaboration between Mexican authorities and international agencies in the fight against drug trafficking, with significant relevance to the loyalty and increasing number of hitmen supporting the Guzmán Salazar.
