Forces Seize Juchitán’s 111-Officer Police HQ After Mayor ‘Quetu’ Arrest; Ex-Police Commissioner Accused of Protecting CJNG’s ‘Los Cromos’
State and federal forces took over the headquarters of Juchitán’s 111-officer municipal police on Friday, Sept. 25, and questioned the officers inside, La Silla Rota reported. The move came two days after the arrest of Mayor Miguel Sánchez Altamirano, “Quetu.” Oaxaca’s top prosecutor says some local police are suspected of working for Los Cromos, a cell tied to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Our earlier story covered the mayor’s arrest.
Former police commissioner arrested
According to La Silla Rota and El Universal (Sept. 25), Oaxaca’s state prosecutor’s office (FGEO) and federal forces arrested John Keny Moreno Segura on Thursday. He is a former commissioner of Juchitán’s municipal police. La Silla Rota reported that the FGEO accuses him of protecting Los Cromos, which it described as an armed wing of the CJNG. He was arrested on the Juchitán–Espinal road.
La Silla Rota said about 20 state police patrol units, Army troops and a federal SSPC unit took part in Friday’s operation. It said more than 250 officers are now patrolling the city.
“Lookouts” and errand-runners, residents say
Residents told El Universal that municipal officers gave Los Cromo members rides in patrol cars, worked as halcones (lookouts) and escorted the people who collect extortion payments. One business owner said he pays 1,000 pesos a week.
State Attorney General Bernardo Rodríguez Alamilla told the paper there are “indicios,” or signs, that some officers work with the group. He noted that certain officers sometimes appeared within minutes of a crime. He also said prosecutors had opened a case over Wednesday’s roadblocks, which tried to stop the mayor from being taken away. Those roadblocks were reportedly set up by municipal police.
Milenio’s video report on the federal takeover of Juchitán:
Mayor jailed pending Sept. 29 hearing
El Universal reported that a judge ordered the mayor and his co-defendant Carlos Alberto P. L., “La Parka,” held in pretrial detention. They face charges of aggravated extortion and crimes against state security. The judge will decide on Sept. 29 whether to send them to trial. Former municipal secretary Mariano Rosado has an arrest warrant against him and is considered a fugitive. None of the accused has been convicted.
Sources
- La Silla Rota, “Catean comandancia de Juchitán, Oaxaca; indagan colusión de policías municipales con grupo criminal,” Sept. 25, 2026.
- El Universal, “Policías de Juchitán, mandaderos y halcones del narco,” Sept. 25, 2026.
- El Universal, “Fuerzas federales y estatales toman Comisaría de Seguridad Pública de Juchitán,” Sept. 25, 2026.
- El Universal, “Dictan prisión preventiva al edil de Juchitán y a ‘La Parka’,” Sept. 25, 2026.
- Video: MILENIO (YouTube), Sept. 25, 2026.
- Photos: Diana Manzo, via La Silla Rota, Sept. 25, 2026.
Reported Sept. 25, 2026, from the Mexican press accounts above. The Narco Blog did not independently verify them. Residents’ accounts are unverified testimony, and the prosecutor described the police allegations as under investigation.