The publication

Who Is ‘La Vaca’? José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz: Role, Charges and Status

What officials and news reports say about José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz, known as “La Vaca”. Everything below is attributed to its source. Accusations are allegations, not findings: anyone not convicted is presumed innocent.

At a glance

Name: José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz
Known as: La Vaca
Role, as reported: Federal authorities identify him as the alleged founder and leader of the Cártel Independiente de Colima, also known as "Los Mezcales." [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]
On this page: 14 facts from 4 sources (0 from official records). Unverified leads are not shown.

Role, as officials describe it

The group was formed from cells previously tied to the CJNG; "La Vaca" decided to break away and create his own organization, sparking a bloody territorial war with his former allies. [Reforma (El Norte), 2022-08-19 · news/research]
In 2010 he was already identified as an important drug trafficker with the rank of lieutenant in the Tijuana Cartel, operating in Colima, Michoacán and Baja California. [Reforma (El Norte), 2022-08-19 · news/research]
Intelligence reports identified him as a generator of violence during the Los Mezcales–CJNG confrontation in Colima. [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]

Names and aliases

His full reported name is José Bernabé Brizuela Meraz, alias "La Vaca." [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]
A Reforma report notes he has also been identified as José Bernabé Vaca Villarreal and by the alias "El Animal." [Reforma (El Norte), 2022-08-19 · news/research]

Key events

The case stems from a September 2014 raid on a property in Villa de Álvarez, Colima, where 7 rifles and 3,439 rounds were seized; the property was rented by José Bernabé and the FGR obtained arrest warrants in November 2020. [Lado.mx, 2026-09-26 · news/research]
He was captured on Aug. 18, 2022 in the Anzures neighborhood of Mexico City during an operation by federal and capital authorities. [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]
An old PGR record cited by Reforma says he was born Jan. 21, 1982 in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, is 1.65 meters tall and married. [Reforma (El Norte), 2022-08-19 · news/research]
After his 2022 capture, vehicle burnings and shootings against businesses were reported in the Colima–Villa de Álvarez metro area. [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]

Other reported details

On Sept. 26, 2026 the FGR obtained a 12-year prison sentence against him (and Christian Jonathan Cuevas Sánchez, "El Camaney") after proving criminal responsibility for weapons stockpiling and possession of military-exclusive cartridges. [Lado.mx, 2026-09-26 · news/research]
Beyond the 12 years, the sentence imposed a fine, a reprimand and suspension of political and civil rights; the penalty cannot be substituted or suspended via a conditional sentence. [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]
His co-defendant Christian Jonathan Cuevas Sánchez, known as "El Camaney," "El Tiburón" or "El Chino," received the same 12-year sentence. [Lado.mx, 2026-09-29 · news/research]
The 12-year sentence corresponds to a case file distinct from the one that led to his 2022 capture; the FGR executed the corresponding arrest warrant after that capture, and the case passed through several instances on defense appeals before the final ruling. [Colima Digital, 2026-09-28 · news/research]

Our coverage

More “Who is” profiles

Last reviewed: September 30, 2026. If you are named here and believe something is wrong, contact us via our corrections page.