Mexican Navy special forces have arrested Audías Flores Silva, whose alias is “El Jardinero” or “The Gardener,” in Nayarit state in western Mexico. The US had offered a $5 million reward for his capture, Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar García Harfuch said.

“As a result of an operation developed and carried out by the Navy’s special forces, Audías Flores Silva, known as ‘El Jardinero,’ was arrested in the state of Nayarit,” the minister wrote on X.

He added that an arrest warrant had been issued for the detainee in Mexico and that he was wanted by US authorities for extradition.

According to the Milenio newspaper, “El Jardinero” was one of the leaders of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and was considered a possible successor to the cartel’s former leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho."

El Mencho was killed in February during an attempted arrest by Mexican forces. Flores Silva was in charge of the logistics, security, and territorial expansion of this cartel.