18 CJNG hitmen arrested in Aguascalientes: air and ground operation unleashes chaos in the region

In a high-impact joint operation , members of the Mexican Army, the National Guard, and state authorities arrested 18 alleged hitmen from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in the municipality of Rincón de Romos, Aguascalientes. The deployment included ground and air patrols, generating an immediate response from the criminal groups, who blocked roads and burned vehicles in retaliation.

Law enforcement operations led to the location and dismantling of a clandestine camp , allegedly used as an operational base by the CJNG (CJNG). Twenty firearms, a grenade launcher, 28 tactical vests, ballistic helmets, magazines, cartridges, and a kilogram of white powder , apparently cocaine, were seized at the site.

The federal government's Security Cabinet confirmed that the operation was the result of intelligence and aerial reconnaissance, which identified suspicious movements in the area. The Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) led the operation, in coordination with the National Guard and the Public Security Secretariat of the State of Aguascalientes .

During the deployment, a State Police aircraft provided visual and logistical support to locate the suspects, who were carrying high-powered weapons . One of the detainees was injured and taken to a hospital under close guard. The rest of the group was handed over to the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office , which is already investigating their links to criminal activities in the region.

Following the arrest, criminal groups responded with acts of violence , creating blockades on local roads and burning vehicles . The actions were interpreted as an intimidation maneuver by organized crime, seeking to pressure authorities to release the detainees or hinder the operation.

Local authorities immediately activated riot control and containment protocols, reinforcing security at strategic points and ensuring the protection of the population. "Organized crime will not be allowed to intimidate the public. We will continue to act firmly," stated a spokesperson for the SSPC.

Although Aguascalientes has been considered a relatively peaceful state for years, in recent months it has shown signs of pressure from criminal groups , especially the CJNG (CJNG), which is trying to expand its influence in the center of the country. The recent operation demonstrates that the state is no longer immune to the national dynamics of organized crime.

According to security analysts, Aguascalientes' strategic location as a logistics hub makes it a key point for drug, arms, and human trafficking , which has raised red flags within the federal government.

The next step will be to determine the legal status of the detainees , many of whom already had criminal records and outstanding arrest warrants, according to official sources. The Attorney General's Office is expected to initiate legal proceedings for organized crime, possession of weapons for the exclusive use of the Army, and crimes against public health .

Furthermore, authorities have indicated that the operation was not a one-off , but rather part of a broader strategy to dismantle criminal cells in the Bajío region. "This is just the beginning of a broader operation," said a federal official on condition of anonymity.

The arrest of these 18 alleged members of the CJNG represents one of the largest recent blows against organized crime in the central part of the country . However, it also highlights these groups' capacity for violent response and the need for constant vigilance. Aguascalientes thus enters the critical national security map, forcing authorities to intensify their presence to prevent violence from taking root in the region.