Jalisco Cartel Leader ‘El Jardinero’ Detained in Mexico

Audias Flores, or El Jardinero (The Gardener), a leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was detained at a cabin in Mexico’s Nayarit state.

Mexican special forces troops escort Audias Flores Silva, a leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), at an undisclosed location in state of Nayarit, Mexico, on April 27, 2026. (SEMAR)/via Reuters)

Mexican special forces arrested Audias Flores, otherwise known as El Jardinero (The Gardener), who is alleged to be one of the leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch said on April 27.

Flores, a regional commander, controlled CJNG territory along the Pacific coast of Mexico and was considered a potential successor to the cartel’s boss, Nemesio Oseguera, alias El Mencho, who was killed in February, in an operation aided by the United States.