A senior leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel was apprehended by Mexican special forces in Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco, on Thursday. The individual, identified as Ramón Ángel “N,” also known as “R1,” faces multiple criminal charges and has been transferred to the maximum‑security Altiplano prison near Mexico City.
Authorities allege that R1 ordered the May 2025 killing of 23‑year‑old beauty influencer Valeria Marquez. Marquez was shot in the head and chest by a gunman disguised as a delivery driver while broadcasting a TikTok livestream from her salon in Jalisco. The assailant confirmed her identity before opening fire, abruptly ending the livestream.
Investigators claim the murder was motivated by a personal vendetta. Marquez’s former boyfriend, Francisco Alvarez, allegedly contacted his father, R1, to carry out the killing after a series of threats. The senior cartel figure is accused of orchestrating the femicide.
The same cartel leader is also linked to the November 2025 assassination of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan. Manzo was shot dead during a public Day of the Dead celebration after publicly calling for a crackdown on drug cartels. Authorities have detained 31 individuals in connection with the mayor’s murder, including the teenage shooter.
While the gunman who killed Marquez remains at large, R1 faces charges of methamphetamine trafficking, illegal firearm possession, and possession of military‑grade ammunition. Security officials describe him as the leader of “Los Rs,” a violent criminal cell operating in several states, including Michoacán and Jalisco.
The cell is implicated in extortion, murders, and drug trafficking that affect local producers, businesses, and families. Prior to her death, Marquez reported receiving threats and warned that her ex‑partner could be responsible for any harm to her or her family.
