Two of El Mencho's Alleged Bodyguards Transferred to Mexico's Highest-Security Prison

New details have begun to emerge about the men who were with "El Mencho," the leader of the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) at the time of his killing.

According to Infobae México, a National Guard armored vehicle transported two alleged bodyguards of El Mencho to the Federal Center for Social Readaptation No. 1, better known as El Altiplano, one of the country's highest-security prisons.

Those taken were identified as Andrés "N" and Genaro "N," described as suspected members of El Mencho's security personnel. Both appeared remotely before a judge.

The hearing began Tuesday night with media present. However, the Attorney General's Office requested that the proceedings be held behind closed doors because the charges are tied to organized crime. The defense supported the request, and the judge ordered the courtroom cleared, the outlet noted.

Before reporters were asked to leave, Genaro "N" could be heard saying that he and the other detainee had been mistaken for cartel members by Defense Ministry and National Guard personnel and denied being part of Oseguera Cervantes' inner security circle.

He also said he was not carrying a weapon at the time of his arrest and asked authorities to conduct sodium rhodizonate tests to prove he had not fired a gun. He added that after several hours in custody, he was flown by helicopter to Mexico City.

As prosecutors press ahead with their investigation into the surviving suspects, authorities transferred the body of El Mencho, along with those of two bodyguards who were also killed, to the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime. In the days that followed, relatives of the late CJNG leader formally requested the release of his remains.

Infobae noted that the only relatives who can request to retrieve a body are a spouse, children or siblings. They must prove that they are related to the person with official documentation either by themselves or through a legal representative. They have chosen to do so through a lawyer.

Talking to reporters in the aftermath of the operation, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo explained that Mexican forces managed to locate El Mencho after tracking down a lover of his. He said that military intelligence managed to locate a man close to one of El Mencho's lovers, allowing them to determine his location. Once the person left the premise, officers confirmed that El Mencho stayed there. Forces then moved on to detain him, engaging in a shootout with cartel operatives.

Trevilla Trejo noted that that El Mencho tried to escape while leaving a group of operatives behind to slow down government forces. He made it to a nearby wooden area, but forces pinned him down and shot him. El Mencho was taken to a helicopter heading to Mexico City, but he died on the way.