**Key Arrest in Mexico Reveals Organized Crime Activities at Izaguirre Ranch**
José Gregorio Lastra Hermida, known as “El Lastra,” was apprehended in Mexico City, shedding light on his alleged involvement in criminal activities at the Izaguirre Ranch. This location, situated in La Estanzuela within the municipality of Teuchitlán, Jalisco, was reportedly used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as a training camp and clandestine crematorium.
On March 24, 2025, Federal Public Security Secretary Omar Hamid García Harfuch confirmed the arrest and detailed the disturbing activities that took place under Lastra’s command. According to his statement, those recruited for the cartel who showed resistance or attempted to flee faced torture or death.
During the president’s morning press briefing, García Harfuch explained that “El Lastra” had orchestrated the recruitment for the CJNG from May 2024 to March 2025, primarily enlisting individuals through deceptive job offers on social media. These opportunities, advertised as security guard positions with competitive salaries, were a lure to bring unsuspecting individuals to the Izaguirre Ranch.
Upon arrival, recruits were stripped of their possessions and equipped with tactical gear while their mobile phones were confiscated. The training regime spanned approximately a month, focusing on weapons handling and physical conditioning. The individuals chosen were subsequently deployed to different regions to reinforce the cartel’s operations.
El Lastra was also implicated in the kidnapping of two University of Guadalajara students in July 2024. His recent movements included a meeting in Puerto Vallarta on March 10, 2025, with Gonzalo Mendoza Gaytán, a CJNG regional leader, who ordered Lastra to cease operations at the ranch.
The subsequent capture of Lastra and accomplice Abril Dianeh Robles Vázquez, known for recruiting kidnapped women, took place near the Mexico-Toluca highway in Cuajimalpa. The operation, executed by the Ministry of Defense, also led to the seizure of military-grade weapons and drugs, all of which were handed over to Mexico City’s Organized Crime Special Prosecutor’s Office.
This development is part of a broader crackdown on criminal networks, with 39 social media pages linked to recruitment shut down since September 2024 and 49 related arrests. Lastra himself was previously reported missing in Chiapas before emerging as a key figure in these illicit activities.
**Secondary Article: Jalisco Authorities Make Progress in Related Investigations**
In related news, authorities in Jalisco have arrested two former municipal police officers from Tala for their alleged involvement with the gang operating at the Izaguirre Ranch. The officers are being investigated for orchestrating abductions, including delivering a man to criminals just before the National Guard’s September 2024 raid on the property.
This case continues to unfold, with more law enforcement personnel possibly implicated, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating within the region.
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