Wanted by the U.S., Flagged as Mexican Mafia: Alleged CJNG Link ‘El Mexicano’ Caught in a Luxury Medellín Home With Armored Cars and Ex-Cop Bodyguards
Colombian authorities have arrested Fredy Chacón, alias “El Mexicano,” in a luxury home in Medellín. Officials describe him as an alleged coordinator in Colombia for Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and say U.S. authorities want him. U.S. agencies identified him in 2015 as an active member of the Mexican Mafia, the U.S. prison gang known as La Eme, El Tiempo and Infobae reported on Sept. 26, 2026.
The arrest in Medellín
Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez announced on X that Chacón had been handed over to Migración Colombia, Colombia’s immigration agency, and that he was “required by authorities of the United States,” Publimetro reported. The operation involved the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Police, the police criminal investigation and Interpol unit (Dijín), police intelligence (Dipol) and the Attorney General’s Office, according to El Tiempo. Agents seized four computers, two tablets, seven hard drives, six phones, two USB drives, planners and accounting records.
“Aquí los buscamos, los encontramos y los ponemos a disposición de las autoridades competentes,” Gutiérrez wrote: “Here we look for them, we find them and we hand them over to the competent authorities.”
Colombian news outlet Minuto30 reported on the arrest in this video:
Alleged front companies in Tijuana and payments to local gangs
Investigators allege Chacón set up front companies in Tijuana and Medellín to disguise illicit money as legitimate business. They also allege he had financial dealings with companies registered in the United States, El Tiempo reported. Infobae said prosecutors are trying to determine whether those U.S. companies were used to launder drug money.
According to authorities cited by both outlets, he allegedly paid $10,000 to $15,000 a month to the Medellín gang La Terraza and to cells of the Clan del Golfo. The payments were allegedly for territorial security, guarding drug shipments and protecting him as he moved around the city. Officials said his security detail was made up partly of retired police officers and that he traveled in at least two high-end armored vehicles.
What U.S. agencies told Colombia
Reports that the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the DEA’s Mexico office gave Colombian authorities say Chacón has a U.S. record that includes aggravated assault with a firearm, weapons violations and kidnapping for ransom, El Tiempo reported. Infobae reported that the DEA wants him. No U.S. indictment or charging document had been made public as of this report, and extradition has not been decided. Chacón has not been convicted of any crime in this case and is presumed innocent.
Sources
- El Tiempo, “En lujosa vivienda capturan a alias ‘El Mexicano’…,” Sept. 26, 2026
- Infobae, “Capturaron en Medellín a alias El Mexicano, enlace del Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación y la Mafia Mexicana,” Sept. 26, 2026
- Publimetro Colombia, “Cayó alias ‘El Mexicano’ en Medellín,” Sept. 26, 2026
- Photos: Colombian National Police, via El Tiempo and Infobae. Video: Minuto30.
This report is based on coverage by El Tiempo, Infobae and Publimetro Colombia as of Sept. 26, 2026, which relies on statements by Colombian officials. The Narco Blog has not independently confirmed the CJNG or Mexican Mafia links, the alleged payments or Chacón’s U.S. record, and could not locate a public U.S. charging document.