The notorious drug cartel boss known by the moniker 'La Gorda,' which translates to 'The Fat Lady,' has been apprehended by law enforcement officials in Mexico. This arrest comes during an ongoing investigation into the gruesome murder of a rival gang leader that has sent shockwaves throughout the region.

Beatriz Sánchez Martínez, the alleged leader of the Tláhuac Cartel, was discovered hiding in her residence in Mexico City. Authorities executed a search warrant at her home, where they confiscated a significant quantity of illicit drugs, a firearm, and several mobile phones. Specifically, the police seized 263 doses of cocaine, 200 doses of methamphetamine, and 50 grams of a suspected methamphetamine compound, alongside a short firearm and three cartridges.

This operation represents a major breakthrough for law enforcement, particularly given that it took place just three months following the assassination of another prominent figure in the local underworld, known as ‘La Tía Fany’ or 'Aunt Fany.' She was found dead in her vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. This violent incident underscored the intense rivalry between the Tláhuac Cartel and its adversaries, highlighting their struggle for dominance over key drug sales territories.

Martínez was arrested alongside her suspected accomplice, Carlos Chávez Vargas. Reports have emerged indicating that Vargas is believed to have carried out the assassination of Aunt Fany under Martínez's orders, an act aimed at eliminating competition within the drug trade. Following the arrests, the pair were handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office, and authorities sealed off their residences, placing them under police surveillance while further investigations are conducted.

In a related series of operations triggered by Aunt Fany’s murder, police have raided three additional properties suspected of serving as safe houses and distribution sites for the Tláhuac Cartel. The aftermath of her death has reportedly led to a splintering of her gang into various factions, each vying for control over their former territory, resulting in increased violence across several neighborhoods.

La Gorda and Vargas now face an array of serious criminal charges that include drug possession, trafficking, the illegal carrying of firearms, and extortion. In addition, Vargas is being investigated for his potential involvement in aggravated homicide.

These apprehensions come against a backdrop of alarming reports regarding the brutal tactics employed by Mexican drug cartels. Disturbing accounts suggest that some cartels are operating training camps where hitmen are coerced into committing heinous acts, including eating the hearts of their victims. These camps are said to be located in concealed mountainous regions, where young men are recruited into so-called trafficking ‘schools’ with the promise of substantial monetary rewards.

A troubling narrative emerged from the testimony of a young man who had been recruited into one of these camps as a mere teenager. He recounted being armed with a rifle and instructed to kill his own brother, illustrating the moral depravity and coercive tactics used to maintain allegiance within the cartels. This young recruit stated that he was brought into the camp at just 13 years old, highlighting the vulnerability of youth in these criminal organizations.

In a separate but equally distressing development, months of violent clashes between factions of the Sinaloa drug cartel have reportedly resulted in the deaths of numerous minors in Mexico City. Local media report that nearly 100 young individuals have gone missing amid the chaos that ensued following the arrest of one of the cartel’s co-founders last July. The president of the Sinaloa State Human Rights Commission, Oscar Loza, confirmed that 39 minors had lost their lives in this tragic conflict. Among the victims were two young girls, aged seven and 12, who tragically lost their lives in crossfire between armed assailants and security forces. Additionally, a 12-year-old boy was injured alongside his family during one of these violent confrontations.

Loza poignantly articulated the lasting scars these tragedies inflict on communities, stating, “When will the people recover from such a deep and painful wound? Never. It will always be there, not because of numbers but the smiles that were extinguished.” The violence has been particularly pronounced in Badiraguato, the birthplace of infamous incarcerated drug trafficker Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán and other senior cartel figures, serving as a grim testament to the multifaceted crisis facing Mexico today.