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News · MexicoAxel of Los Ciclones is captured and Matamoros fills with roadblocks: at least five dead
The Army arrested Axel Alfredo Cárdenas in Matamoros, named as second in command of Los Ciclones, a faction of the Gulf Cartel. His capture set off roadblocks, burning cars and a preliminary toll of five dead, including a girl.
Translated from the original Spanish article. Read in Spanish
News published on October 30, 2026. The situation may have changed since then.
Matamoros, in Tamaulipas, lived through a day of fear on Thursday. On October 29, federal forces arrested Axel Alfredo Cárdenas, alias Axel, and the city filled with roadblocks and burning vehicles.
Who Axel is
Mexico's Defense Ministry says he is the second in command of Los Ciclones, a faction of the Gulf Cartel.
He is the son of José Alfredo Cárdenas, alias El Contador, and the nephew of Osiel Cárdenas Guillén, a former boss of that cartel.
He is accused of murders, kidnappings, extortion, fuel theft and trafficking drugs and weapons between Mexico and the United States. He had already been arrested in 2023, but a judge allowed him to face trial out of custody.
He was captured by Army Special Forces and the National Guard. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed that two people were arrested. Both were flown to Mexico City.
The United States has Tamaulipas at level 4 of its travel advisory, the highest: it advises against travel because of crime and kidnappings.
A city blocked
From 11 a.m. there were roadblocks with trucks parked across roads, burning cars and tire spikes. They also hit Río Bravo and Valle Hermoso.
Classes were suspended and shops closed. Mayor Alberto Granados asked people to stay home.
The victims
The Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office confirmed the death of a girl hit by a stray bullet on the road to Reynosa. Her mother was injured.
In addition, four people died when their car crashed into a burning bus on the highway. The preliminary toll is five dead, although authorities still have to confirm it.
The head of Civil Protection, Gustavo Acuña, was injured while putting out a burning pickup truck.
US alert
The US Embassy issued a security alert and asked its staff in Matamoros not to leave their homes.
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Sources (in Spanish)
- Detención, perfil y bloqueos: Uno TV (29 de octubre de 2026).
- Saldo preliminar de cinco muertos: Uno TV (29 de octubre de 2026).
- Confirmación de Harfuch y alerta de la Embajada: Uno TV con AFP (29 de octubre de 2026).
- Alerta de seguridad de EE. UU.: Infobae (29 de octubre de 2026).
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