Mexican Authorities Arrest Senior Member of Los Gigios, a Criminal Cell Tied to La Mayiza in Northern Mexico

Mexican federal forces have dealt a significant blow to the criminal group Los Gigios, which is linked to drug and human trafficking into the United States, as well as kidnappings and homicides in northern Sonora.

Concretely, Mexican authorities arrested Francisco Ernesto Félix Romero, identified as a key figure in the organization, in the border city of Nogales.

According to an official statement, agents located Félix Romero after gathering intelligence that led them to a residence in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Nogales, where he had been hiding. During the operation, federal forces also seized 40 doses of crystal meth and cocaine.

Sources cited by Infobae México said Félix Romero was involved in both drug smuggling and human trafficking operations into the U.S., taking advantage of Nogales's strategic location along the border.

Intelligence reports indicate Félix Romero held an important role within Los Gigios, a criminal cell active in Nogales and nearby areas along the Arizona border. The group operates under the leadership of Sergio Valenzuela Valenzuela, also known as "El Gigio," who has been identified as the plaza boss in Nogales for La Mayiza, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel loyal to Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.

Valenzuela is wanted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration on charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

The turf war between La Mayiza and rival faction Los Chapitos has escalated beyond Sinaloa into various parts of northern Mexico, including Sonora. Since June 2024, multiple criminal groups have been fighting for control of key trafficking corridors used for drugs, weapons and migrants heading into Arizona.

La Jornada reports that while La Mayiza operates through groups such as Los Gigios, Los Chapitos rely on other armed factions in the state, including Los Salazar and Los Matasalas, a cell reportedly formed by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán to counter La Mayiza's influence in the region.

According to Infobae México, violence has intensified across Sonora in recent months. On Oct. 15, state officials reported a string of attacks in four separate locations that left seven people dead and led to the arrest of four suspects.

Recent government data also shows the steady rise of violence in the state. According to Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), Sonora is among the states with the highest homicide rates in the country. In 2024, the state recorded an average of 52 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, ranking sixth nationwide, behind only Colima, Morelos, Baja California, Chihuahua and Guanajuato.