Mexico city: Mexican authorities have confirmed the killing of Luis Enrique Barragan Chavez, known as "R5" or "El Wicho," who was identified as the leader of the Los Reyes cartel, during a security operation in the western state of Michoacan. The operation, involving the Secretariat of National Defense, Civil Guard, and National Guard, took place in Los Reyes.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Defense Ministry announced that Barragan was killed on Sunday night in the municipality of Tocumbo after intelligence efforts by the military's XII Military Region. The security forces encountered resistance during the operation and responded, resulting in the deaths of Barragan and another individual accompanying him.
During the operation, authorities confiscated two automatic rifles, ammunition, magazines, and an all-terrain vehicle. Barragan had assumed leadership of the Los Reyes cartel following the capture of the former leader, Alfonso Fernandez Magallon, alias "Poncho," in August.
The Los Reyes cartel primarily operates in the municipalities of Los Reyes, Periban, and Tocumbo in Michoacan, near the border with Jalisco. Barragan was identified as a major figure in extorting avocado producers in Michoacan, a practice that has plagued the region.
The United States government had also focused on Barragan, with the Treasury Department sanctioning him in August 2025 as a regional leader of Carteles Unidos involved in avocado-related extortion. Additionally, the US State Department had offered a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
This operation follows the capture of Fernandez, the previous leader of the Los Reyes cartel, and is part of a wider effort by the Mexican government to combat organized crime in Michoacan. The region, a significant agricultural hub, has been troubled by ongoing violence linked to criminal groups vying for control over territory, drug trafficking, and extortion activities.
US authorities have noted that criminal organizations in Michoacan routinely extort agricultural producers, particularly those involved in the lucrative avocado trade. The recent security operation is an integral part of the Mexican government's strategy to address these issues in the region.