Mexican authorities reported the detention of alleged members of a criminal group who were distributing military-style toys with the legend CDN, presumably referring to the acronym of the criminal organization (Northeast Cartel), to minors in a municipality of the Mexican state of Nuevo León. According to the Secretariat of Public Security, Citizen Protection, and Social Prevention of the municipality of Guadalupe, Nuevo León, the events occurred in the Escamilla neighborhood of that metropolitan municipality. The arrest came after a vehicle was found that was being sought for its alleged involvement in a pair of executions. Officers noticed the presence of four men who were giving the toys to minors. When discovered, the subjects tried to flee but were intercepted. They had 144 doses of green and dry herb with characteristics of marijuana, a .223 caliber firearm, a 9mm caliber firearm, 120 .223 caliber cartridges, 17 9mm cartridges, and eight boxes of toys each in their packaging with the CDN legend seized. The men were identified as Lander Alejandro, 18, alias 'Tocino', from Baja California; Erick 'Flaco', 27, and Bryan 'Lucifer', 25, both from Veracruz, as well as Francisco Israel 'Cañangas or Isra', 31, from Monterrey. The four detainees are accused of their involvement in two executions and another violent incident with shots fired, with no reported victims, which occurred in December. The CDN or Northeast Cartel is a criminal organization in Mexico, considered a splinter group of the Zetas, and is linked to illicit activities such as homicide, drug trafficking, and extortion. It is not the first time that alleged members of organized crime have given gifts to the population. On other occasions, members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have gone out into the streets wearing balaclavas and long-barreled weapons to distribute toys to minors, on dates such as December 25, Christmas Day, and January 6, Three Kings' Day. The toy deliveries take place in marginalized areas of the states of Michoacán and Jalisco.
