José Alberto García Vilano, also known as La Kena and Ciclon 19, is a Mexican drug lord and leader of the Los Ciclones cell within the Gulf Cartel, an international crime syndicate.[1]
García Vilano's cell was accused of kidnapping four U.S. citizens in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, in March 2023, with two of the victims being killed.[2][3]
2024 arrest
editOn January 19, 2024, García Vilano was seen in a shopping plaza in Monterrey, Nuevo León, being escorted by armed police.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ "Alleged leader of the Gulf drug cartel, the gang that kidnapped and killed Americans, is captured in Mexico - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "What we know about the deadly kidnapping of Americans in Matamoros, Mexico". Dallas News. 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ Ruiz, Michael (2023-03-22). "Americans who survived Matamoros cartel kidnapping break silence on 'nightmare' in Mexico". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ Dorgan, Michael (2024-01-19). "La Kena, notorious Mexican cartel leader, captured; group accused of killing 2 US tourists". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
- ^ "Mexico arrests leader of gang accused of kidnapping 6 Americans, killing 2". NBC 6 South Florida. 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-01-19.