Mexican authorities arrest Gulf cartel leader in Matamoros

Mexican special forces and the National Guard have arrested Axel Alfredo “N”, also known as “Axel”, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Identified as the second-in-command of the “Ciclones” criminal cell, he is a high-priority target linked to murders, kidnappings, extortion, and the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and people into the United States.

The arrest, conducted through military intelligence, has triggered a wave of violence in northern Mexico, including road blockades, armed clashes, and civilian deaths. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch stated that the suspect is believed to have ordered an armed attack on May 17 against federal police guarding the perimeter of the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros, an incident that resulted in the death of a Mexican officer.

Axel Alfredo “N” belongs to a criminal family based in Matamoros. He is the son of José Alfredo Cárdenas Martínez, known as “El Contador”, who faces charges in the United States for trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Investigations suggest the “Los Ciclones” group operated a cross-border network smuggling weapons and money from the U.S. to Mexico, while moving migrants and drugs in the opposite direction.