Mexico's Navy arrests El Semáforo in Oaxaca, named as El Tanque's successor in the CJNG
Carlos César Cruz Muñoz, alias El Semáforo, was arrested in Tuxtepec along with an alleged logistics operator. Authorities identify him as the Jalisco New Generation Cartel's boss in the Veracruz and Boca del Río area.
Translated from the original Spanish article. Read in Spanish
News published on October 29, 2026. The situation may have changed since then.
Mexico's Navy arrested Carlos César Cruz Muñoz, alias El Semáforo (The Traffic Light), in Oaxaca. Authorities describe him as the alleged successor of El Tanque within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
How the arrest happened
It took place in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, in San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. The Navy, the Security Ministry and the Attorney General's Criminal Investigation Agency took part.
Ana Gabriela N., described as the group's logistics operator, was arrested with him.
Officers seized drugs, weapons and grenades, plus 4 vehicles, 6 motorcycles, 2 quad bikes and a property. It is all worth about 8.8 million pesos, according to the Security Cabinet.
Both were flown by helicopter to Veracruz and then by plane to Mexico City, where they were handed over to federal prosecutors.
El Semáforo is also known as Semo or The Lord of the Lights, according to Infobae.
Who El Semáforo is
He is 42 and comes from Tuxtepec. According to the Navy, he was the cell's number two and the local boss in the Veracruz and Boca del Río area.
He is linked to kidnappings and murders along the strip between Veracruz and Oaxaca. He is also accused over the killing of two state investigators in Boca del Río in May 2025.
The fall of El Tanque
His boss, Iván Cazarín Molina, alias El Tanque, was arrested on October 5 in Zapopan, Jalisco. He is now in the Altiplano prison.
The United States formally charged him on October 22 with trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine.
Before El Semáforo, 16 other alleged members of the group had already been arrested in Veracruz and Oaxaca. All of them are presumed responsible until a judge rules.
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Sources (in Spanish)
- Detención, aseguramientos y perfil: Infobae (28 de octubre de 2026).
- Comunicado de la Marina y traslado: El Financiero (28 de octubre de 2026).
- Quién es El Semáforo: Uno TV (28 de octubre de 2026).
Photos are from Wikimedia Commons under free licenses; the author and license are shown under each image.
