Arrest of High-Priority Crime Target
Mexican authorities arrested José Marcelino "N", known as "El Marce", during a coordinated inter-state security operation in the city of Mérida, Yucatán. Recognized as a primary target on Quintana Roo's Criminal Atlas and a suspected leader of a criminal cell in Benito Juárez, the suspect faces charges for qualified homicide.
Details of the Investigation
Quintana Roo Attorney General Raciel López Salazar announced the arrest during a press conference held by the state's Peace Cabinet. According to official investigations, "El Marce" allegedly ordered the murder of a rival gang member who was shot multiple times outside his home in Cancún's 524 subdivision as part of an ongoing turf war over retail drug sales.
Criminal Background and Connections
Authorities noted that the suspect previously operated under the criminal structure once commanded by Héctor Elías Flores Aceves, a former gang leader currently serving a 50-year prison sentence. Investigators also link "El Marce" to drug distribution networks operating across local nightclubs, bars, and beaches, as well as multiple homicides committed near a hotel on Kukulcán Boulevard in April 2023.
Inter-State Collaboration
The successful apprehension was executed through close intelligence sharing and collaboration between the Quintana Roo Attorney General's Office and investigative police forces in Yucatán. Following his capture in Mérida, the suspect was immediately transferred and placed at the disposition of the legal authorities to determine his final judicial status. State officials reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling high-profile criminal cells operating throughout the region.
