Major ‘Killing Force’ and Gang Leader Arrested in Ciudad Juarez

The Federal Police arrested Arturo Gallegos Castrellón, alias “the Farmero”, the alleged gang leader of the Aztecs and one of the key assassins operating in Ciudad Juarez.  He is believed to be responsible for the deaths of 14 young people in Villas de Salvarcar and for killing five federal agents, amongst other things.

The head of the Regional Security Division of the Federal Police, Luis Cardenas, said in a press conference that “the Farmero” who was arrested with two others, has ordered 80 percent of all homicides in that city since 2009.

This arrest is carried out within the framework of the national strategy to combat crime and follow the lines of research aimed at breaking the criminal organization of Los Aztecas.

The other persons arrested with Castrellon was Carlos Rodríguez Ramírez, alias “67” and Gisela Ornelas Nunez, alias “the Professora” both are allegedly responsible for transferring drugs and weapons between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez. 

Arturo Gallegos Castrellón is connected to different criminal events among them:

1 .- The murder of two employees of the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, which occurred on March 14th of this year; 
2 .- The killing of 14 youths in the colony Villas de Salvarcar Villas on January 31, 2010 and
3 .- The murder of five federal police in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

In the matter of the youth killings, Castrellón said he received information about an AA group, “but when they realized it was a mistake, he nonetheless ordered the execution to take place.”

He also confessed that he ordered the killing of the wife of Jesus Ernesto Chávez Castillo, and he allegedly disclosed information about the criminal organization of Los Aztecas.

The arrested were seized with two rifles, two handguns, 228 rounds of ammunition, 90 grams of marijuana and four vehicles including an armored van.

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