A notable member of the Gulf Cartel (also known in Spanish as Cartel del Golfo or CDG), Juan Francisco Martínez Ramirez , who uses the aliases "Paquito", "Paco", "Metro 77", and "M77", was arrested on Monday, December 8. Sometime around 7:00-8:00 PM, agents of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in conjunction with deputy U.S. Marshals and the Law Enforcement Emergency Regional Response Team raided a house near the intersection of Scott Lane and Del Oro Streets on the west side of Mission, Texas, near the Palmview area and quickly captured him, despite his attempt to escape.
"Paquito" appeared before Judge Peter Ormsby, a United States Magistrate in McAllen, Texas, the following day and is being held for federal money laundering charges. He was denied bond and was not given a court-appointed attorney as Judge Ormsby found his income levels to be too high to qualify. A subsequent hearing has been scheduled for Friday, December 12.
Within the Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel, "Paquito" was the head of the Reynosa, Tamaulipas plaza during the leadership of Mario Armando Ramírez Treviño, aliases "X-20" and "Mario Pelón", a role which he continued to have following the August 17, 2013 arrest of "X-20". Rumors emerged thereafter about an internal disagreement as to who should become the next leader of Los Metros, with "Paquito", among others, supporting Galindo Mellado Cruz. However, a majority would support
Juan Manuel Rodríguez García, aliases "Juan Perros" and "Pantera 11", sowing tension within Los Metros as "Juan Perros" assumed leadership.
In late April 2014 the situation in Reynosa exploded with the execution of "El Mono", a cousin of "Paquito", by forces under the command of "Juan Perros". "Paquito" and those under his command were then targeted, and for some time "Paquito" fought back, but it was evident he was fighting an uphill battle. A few weeks later, "Paquito" fled, with the prevailing rumor being that he was hiding out in southern Texas.
By September, "Paquito" returned to Reynosa, which was now under the control of a mysterious figure known as "El Gafe". It is not clear what the exact role of "Paquito" was upon his return, although a distinct possibility was that he was named a sector commander. Regardless, it was clear that his power was greatly reduced.
Upon the October 9 arrest in Edinburg, Texas of the then leader of Los Metros, Juan Francisco Saenz Tamez, alias "El Panochitas", it was reported that "Paquito" was traveling with him in a second vehicle but managed to escape across the border to Mexico. It has since been reported that "El Panochitas" was arrested based upon information given to the DEA by an informant within the Gulf Cartel and it is likely that the location of "Paquito" in Mission, Texas was provided by this informant as well.