### Former Army Member ‘Lastra’ Linked to Criminal Activities, Taken into Custody
In a significant development, José Gregorio Lastra Hermida, known as ‘El Lastra’, has been formally charged with crimes connected to drug-related activities and the illegal possession of firearms. This came after he was found to be managing the Izaguirre ranch, which allegedly served as a training ground for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Teuchitlán, Jalisco.
The authorities apprehended Lastra Hermida, a former military man, and Abril Dianeh Robles Vázquez, accused of recruiting kidnapped women. The arrests occurred during a military operation near Mexico City. Both individuals are now under preventive detention, as ordered by the control judge, Mario Elizondo MartÃnez.
The site, Izaguirre Ranch, operated as a covert training center, where new recruits were allegedly tortured or killed if they resisted the cartel’s indoctrination. Omar Hamid GarcÃa Harfuch, head of the Federal Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat, disclosed that recruits were lured through deceptive job offers on social media and later trained in weapons handling and physical conditioning.
The investigation unveiled that followers were isolated during a month-long training period. Further, recruits’ personal belongings were confiscated, and communication was restricted. The training aimed at bolstering the cartel’s operation strength across various regions.
Harfuch emphasized that “El Lastra” played a critical role not only in operating these tactics but also in orchestrating other severe crimes, including the abduction of university students, marking his involvement with CJNG from July 2024 to early 2025.
### Related Developments in Jalisco
In continuation of efforts to dismantle cartel operations, another ranch raid took place in Teuchitlán, Jalisco. The search aims to uncover more training facilities linked to the CJNG, confirming the breadth of their network in the region. This latest operation is part of a series of strategic measures spearheaded by the national security forces to tackle organized crime.
Meanwhile, arrests connected to cartel activities are mounting. Since September 2024, a total of 49 individuals linked to the criminal network’s recruitment activities have been apprehended. The Mexican government continues to leverage social media and technology to track and curb these illegal operations, shutting down 39 online pages, including those on TikTok, used for recruitment by the CJNG.
These collective actions underscore Mexico’s intensified campaign to secure the nation and dismantle powerful crime syndicates. The collaboration between various security forces and intelligence agencies remains essential in pursuing justice and ensuring public safety across the country.