Notorious Sinaloa Cartel boss ‘El 20’ arrested in Mexico after linked to attack on military
Mexican authorities have arrested a man believed to notorious Sinaloa Cartel boss Adrián “N,” better know by his alias “El 20” in an operation carried out by the Army, Navy, National Guard, and other security forces
Alleged cartel leader Adrian N, better known as ‘El 20’, has been arrested(Image: Gobierno De Mexico/Ministry of National Defense)
Mexican authorities have successfully completed a major operation in Villa Unión that has led to the capture of regional leader of Sinaloa Cartel cell.
The Mexican Ministry of National Defense announced the arrest of Adrián N., better known as ‘El 20’, who has been a target for authorities after being linked to military attack in 2016 that saw five soldiers of the Mexican Army. It comes as the Mexican government appears to be continuing with its crackdown on organised crime with recent arrests.
El 20 is allegedly the leader the Pacific Cartel, which is an organization that works for the El Chapo’s infamous Sinaloa Carte faction Los Chapitos. The wanted cartel leader was successfully captured during an operation in the Villa Unión area of Mazatlán, Sinaloa, on Tuesday (July 28).
Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman was once the top leader in the Sinaloa Cartel(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The major task involved the Army, Navy, National Guard, and other security force to take him in almost 10 years after he was accused of the murders of the soldiers killed in the fatal attacks.
El 20 has also been linked to attacks against the military during the 2019 and 2023 operations to capture Ovidio “El Ratón’ Guzmán, who is the son of the Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
According to a statement made by the Mexican Ministry of National Defense, El 20 was arrested with one other person, who authorities have not decided to reveal the identity of at this time.
El Chapo’s son Ovidio Guzman was arrested in 2023(Image: AP)
Multiple items were also seized during the raid with two 7.62mm machine guns, four long guns, 30 magazines, 2,158 rounds of ammunition, a vehicle, and various tactical equipment, according to Mexican outlet El Pais.
El 20’s arrest in seen as a major capture for authorities as he reportedly a key influence in organised crime throughout Mazatlán, Villa Unión, El Palmito, El Rosario, La Concordia and Escuinapa.
The Mexican Ministry of National Defense statement read: “This significant result against key operatives of the ‘Pacific Cartel’ adds to the arrest of Gabriel ‘N’ (a) ‘Gabito’, who is linked to the kidnapping and murder of 6 workers and 4 suppliers of a mining company in the state of Sinaloa, on January 23, 2026, as well as the disappearance of 4 tourists from the State of Mexico on February 3, 2026 in Mazatlán, Sinaloa; and to the death of Cristhian ‘N’ (a) “Texas”, plaza boss in Culiacán, Sinaloa, during an operation to arrest him, representing a significant impact against the operational and logistical capabilities of this criminal group.
“The detainees and the seized items were placed at the disposal of the Attorney General’s Office based in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, to continue with the investigations, relevant expert actions and determine their legal status.”
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