Held in El Altiplano Until Oct. 13: Judge Orders Pretrial Detention for CJNG’s ‘El Tanque’ — as Harfuch Says a Leaked Audio Is ‘the Only Thing We Have’ on the Amílcar Olán Link
A Mexican federal judge has ordered mandatory pretrial detention for Iván Cazarín Molina, “El Tanque,” the alleged regional boss of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) arrested Oct. 5 in Zapopan, Jalisco. He will stay in the Altiplano federal prison at least until his hearing resumes Oct. 13, Proceso reported Oct. 9, 2026. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned him in 2024. On the same day, Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch said a leaked audio is so far the only evidence authorities have on a reported link between El Tanque and businessman Amílcar Olán.
The charges and the Oct. 13 hearing
According to Proceso, prosecutors accuse Cazarín Molina of organized crime for the purpose of drug offenses, carrying a firearm, and possessing ammunition reserved for the armed forces. He appeared by video link from the organized-crime prosecutors’ office in Mexico City. His defense asked for the constitutional deadline to be doubled so it can gather evidence and try to stop the case from going to trial. The judge set the hearing to resume Oct. 13. Proceso said federal prosecutors also link him to homicides, extortion, kidnapping, fuel theft, money laundering and drug trafficking. These are allegations; he has not been convicted.
‘The only thing we have is the recording’
After a closed-door appearance before the lower house’s Political Coordination Board on Oct. 8, García Harfuch was asked about 2023 recordings published by Latinus. In them, Olán’s brother Luis Alberto says he knows El Tanque. “Lo único que tenemos también al momento es la grabación de la nota periodística,” García Harfuch said (“The only thing we also have at the moment is the recording from the news report”), MVS Noticias and La Razón reported. He added that the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) will decide who else is investigated. He also said of El Tanque, “Su hermano está detenido” (“His brother is detained”), La Razón reported. Neither Olán brother has been charged.
The Texas connection
When Treasury sanctioned him in September 2024, it said his crew taps Pemex pipelines. The stolen fuel is sold at gas stations he manages or to third parties in Mexico who sell it into the U.S. market, most often in Texas, the Associated Press reported at the time. Sanctions are a civil measure, not a criminal charge.
Milenio’s video report on what is known about how El Tanque allegedly sent stolen fuel to the U.S. (in Spanish):
Sources
- Proceso (Diana Lastiri), “Dan prisión preventiva oficiosa a ‘El Tanque’ del CJNG,” Oct. 9, 2026
- MVS Noticias (Angélica Melín), “Semar fue la que denunció red de huachicol; se investiga audio de Amílcar: Harfuch,” Oct. 8, 2026
- La Razón, “‘Lo único que tenemos es la grabación’, dice Harfuch sobre nexos de Amílcar Olán con El Tanque,” Oct. 8–9, 2026
- Associated Press via ABC News, “The US sanctions a man it says leads a fuel theft ring for hyper-violent Mexican cartel,” Sept. 2024
- Photos: Fiscalía General de la República, via Proceso; Cuartoscuro, via La Razón
Reported Oct. 9, 2026, from the sources above. The Narco Blog did not review court filings or the full hearing; details come from the outlets cited. Cazarín Molina and the Olán brothers have not been convicted of any crime.