Barrio 18 gang fugitives captured in Mexico

Barrio 18 Fraijanes II prison escape Quintana Roo Guatemalan fugitives Interpol red notice

Two high-profile members of the Barrio 18 gang, Rudy Augusto Ortiz Morales (alias ‘Smoking’) and Esvin Estuardo Herrera Ardiano (alias ‘Liro Spyder’), have been captured in Quintana Roo, Mexico. The arrest was the result of a coordinated operation involving Guatemalan authorities, including the National Civil Police (PNC), and Mexican law enforcement.

The two men were fugitives from the Fraijanes II maximum-security prison in Guatemala, where they escaped on October 12, 2025, along with 18 other inmates. Both individuals were subject to Interpol red notices. During the operation in the Benito Juárez municipality, authorities also seized firearms, ammunition, and suspected marijuana.

This capture marks a significant development in the ongoing search for the 20 gang members who escaped nearly a year ago. To date, 11 fugitives have been recaptured and one has been found dead, while nine individuals remain at large. Guatemalan authorities continue to offer a reward of Q150,000 for information leading to the capture of the remaining fugitives.

Entities

Barrio 18 · Esvin Estuardo Herrera Ardiano · Fraijanes II · Interpol · Rudy Augusto Ortiz Morales

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Authorities seized suspected marijuana, firearms, and ammunition during the operation in Mexico. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com · www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx · www.yucatan.com.mx · www.elfinanciero.com.mx
[● 3 SOURCES] Nine fugitives from the original escape remain at large. visorgt.com · www.prensalibre.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Of the 20 gang members who escaped Fraijanes II, eight have been recaptured and one was found dead. www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx · www.elfinanciero.com.mx
[● 2 SOURCES] The two captured individuals are members of the Barrio 18 gang. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The fugitives escaped from the Fraijanes II prison on October 12, 2025. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com · visorgt.com · www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx · www.elfinanciero.com.mx
[● 5 SOURCES] The captured men had active Interpol red notices. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com · www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx · www.yucatan.com.mx · www.elfinanciero.com.mx
[● 4 SOURCES] Rudy Augusto Ortiz Morales, alias ‘Smoking’, and Esvin Estuardo Herrera Ardiano, alias ‘Liro Spyder’, were captured in Quintana Roo, Mexico. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com · lahora.gt · www.prensalibre.com
[● 2 SOURCES] A reward of Q150,000 is offered for information leading to the capture of the remaining fugitives. www.yucatan.com.mx
[● 5 SOURCES] Authorities captured two Barrio 18 gang members in Quintana Roo, Mexico, following a coordinated operation. lasnoticiasdelvalle.com · www.lavozdemichoacan.com.mx · www.yucatan.com.mx · www.elfinanciero.com.mx