Colima cartel leader sentenced to 12 years for weapons stockpiling

José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz, known as ‘La Vaca’, and Christian Jonathan Cuevas Sánchez, known as ‘El Camaney’, have been sentenced to 12 years in prison. Brizuela Meraz is identified as the founder and leader of the Cártel Independiente de Colima, also known as ‘Los Mezcales’.

The sentencing follows an investigation by the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) regarding the stockpiling of firearms and possession of ammunition reserved for exclusive use by the armed forces. The case originated from a 2014 search of a property in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, where seven rifles and 3,439 cartridges of various calibers were seized. Investigations revealed the property was rented by Brizuela Meraz, while Cuevas Sánchez had full access to the location.

The legal process involved multiple judicial stages following the issuance of arrest warrants in 2020. In addition to the prison term, the sentence includes a fine, a formal reprimand, and the suspension of political and civil rights.