Federal authorities in Mexico announced the arrest of Ramón Ángel ‘N’, known as ‘El R1’, identifying him as the primary mastermind behind the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo, according to Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch during a morning press conference led by President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday, July 31, 2025.
Investigation Details and the Motive Behind the Attack
According to interviews with detained suspects, the possible motive for the execution of Carlos Manzo was a “provocation of the municipal president to the criminal group (CJNG),” as stated by García Harfuch. The security secretary explained that when the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional or the Guardia Nacional carried out various detentions, the mayor of Uruapan was present and made allusions to the criminal group. Officials noted that the exact motive will continue to refine as investigations progress and ‘El R1’ makes statements to authorities.
The Cabinet of Security gathered several pieces of evidence linking Ramón Ángel ‘N’ to the homicide, including forensic analysis of phones belonging to previously detained individuals, bank transfers, witness testimonies, and intercepted calls between suspected criminals. García Harfuch stated that ‘El R1’ directly ordered and financed the attack against Carlos Manzo, which occurred during the Festival de las Velas in Uruapan, Michoacán, on the night of November 1, 2025.
Did You Know? The November 1, 2025 attack on Mayor Carlos Manzo during the Festival de las Velas triggered one of the most significant governance crises for President Claudia Sheinbaum that year, prompting her administration to establish the Plan Michoacán to deliver security and social support to the state.
Structure of the Criminal Cell and Leadership Changes
With the capture of Ramón Ángel ‘N’, authorities reported a total of 31 arrests tied to the homicide of Carlos Manzo. The detained individuals include material authors, intellectual authors, operators, recruiters, and persons who supplied information or logistical support for the crime, according to the security cabinet.
García Harfuch indicated that the CJNG criminal cell led by ‘El R1’ operated across Uruapan, Morelia, and the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, among other regions. Following the detention, leadership of ‘Los R’s’, the group that took part in the attack against the mayor, passed to ‘El R2’, who is the brother of Ramón Ángel ‘N’. Furthermore, telecommunication intercepts revealed that Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho’, was informed of the assassination plans by ‘El R1’, though authorities emphasized that Oseguera Cervantes did not directly order the killing.
Connection to the Feminicide of Valeria Márquez
In addition to the Uruapan mayoral assassination, federal investigators linked ‘El R1’ to the May 2025 feminicide of influencer Valeria Márquez. García Harfuch stated that Márquez maintained a romantic relationship with Francisco ‘N’, the son of ‘El R1’.
According to the security secretary, the influencer had received multiple threats from Francisco ‘N’ prior to her death. Investigators found indications that Francisco ‘N’ requested his father, ‘El R1’, to commit the feminicide. The murder of Valeria Márquez occurred while she was broadcasting a live video stream from her beauty salon in Zapopan, Jalisco.
Official Responses and Institutional Directives
Grecia Quiroz, the mayor of Uruapan and widow of Carlos Manzo, acknowledged the progress made by the Secretariat of Security under Omar García Harfuch. “This progress is barely the beginning of everything behind the assassination of Carlos Manzo. I am convinced that there is still much more to clarify,” Quiroz declared following the announcement of the arrest. President Sheinbaum stated that she instructed García Harfuch to maintain close contact with Quiroz to provide any necessary support.
During the same morning address, President Sheinbaum emphasized that upcoming protections for the Right of Audiences will not impose sanctions or censorship on journalists. Separately, Secretary of the Defensa Nacional Ricardo Trevilla addressed military-style schools, stating that it is illegal for such institutions—including the one where young Dafne Zapata died—to utilize Army emblems. Trevilla noted that under a 2008 decree, the Secretariat of National Defense no longer holds authority over educational curricula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ‘El R1’ and what is his alleged role in the homicide of Carlos Manzo?
Ramón Ángel ‘N’, referred to as ‘El R1’, is identified by the Secretariat of Security as the primary intellectual author who ordered and financed the assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo.
What evidence do authorities have against Ramón Ángel ‘N’?
The Cabinet of Security cited forensic phone analyses from previously detained suspects, bank transfers, witness testimonies, and intercepted telephone calls between suspected criminals.
How is ‘El R1’ connected to the death of influencer Valeria Márquez?
According to security investigations, Valeria Márquez had a romantic relationship with Francisco ‘N’, the son of ‘El R1’, and had faced prior threats before her murder was broadcast live from her Zapopan beauty salon in May 2025.
How do you view the ongoing federal strategy to dismantle criminal cells in Michoacán and Jalisco?
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