Oaxaca authorities arrest leader of ‘Los Cromos’ criminal group

Authorities in Oaxaca have announced the arrest of Iván Sánchez Santiago, known as ‘El Cromo’, a leader of the criminal group ‘Los Cromos’. The group, which is allegedly linked to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), has been operating in the Istmo de Tehuantepec region, including municipalities such as Juchitán, Salina Cruz, and Ciudad Ixtepec.

Oaxaca Attorney General Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla explained that the group’s name derived from the aliases of its leaders, Iván ‘N’ (alias ‘El Cromo’) and Rubén ‘N’ (alias ‘Comandante Cromo’). The organization has been implicated in extortion, kidnapping, and drug and arms trafficking. According to security officials, Sánchez Santiago faced three arrest warrants for aggravated homicide.

Governor Salomón Jara Cruz described the arrest as a significant blow to organized crime in the region. He emphasized that the state government is working with federal forces to combat extortion and ensure security for families and the local economy.