On Friday April 17, a series of shootouts and blockades swept the border city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
Around 10:00 AM federal forces were attacked in the Zona Centro and Industrial colonia. The situation was calm for a while, but after 12:40 PM shootouts and blockades took place on Hidalgo boulevard in the Valle Alto colonia, where an unnamed cartel leader was arrested.
Thereafter violence exploded throughout the city, including the free highway Matamoros-Monterrey, Morelos boulevard, and Hidalgo boulevard, as armed individuals hijacked vehicles and set them on fire in an apparent attempt to aid in rescuing their captured comrade. Likewise, the offices of the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR) in the city was shot.
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By 3:00 PM, federal forces began regaining control of the city, though at 4:30 PM shootouts continued in the colonias of Vista Hermosa, Caracoles, Villa Florida, and Las Cumbres, as well as Morelos boulevard near the commercial centers and Oriente freeway, near Parque Cultural.
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| El Gafe being transferred to DF-after his arrest hell broke out in SW Reynosa |
According to social media, the individual arrested was Sergio Velázquez, alias "El Gafe", the current head of plaza in Reynosa and overall leader of the Los Metros faction of the Gulf Cartel. A native of the state of Veracruz, "El Gafe" was once a member of the military, though, despite his alias, he was not a member of GAFE.
His criminal career was first noted as a bodyguard for Héctor David Delgado Santiago, alias "El Metro 4". It appears that “El Gafe” became head of plaza in Reynosain the summer of 2014 and leader of Los Metros following the October arrest of Juan Francisco Saénz Tamez, alias "El Panochitas".
As the war against the Matamoros faction of the Gulf Cartel has progressed, it had been rumored that "El Gafe" took refuge in Saltillo, Coahuila, leaving "El Toro" in charge and giving orders via radio.
Recent rumors placed "El Gafe" in Jalisco, where it has been alleged he owns ranches, though if his arrest proves true, this was obviously wrong or he recently returned to Reynosa. This picture has appeared online, allegedly showing him immediately after his arrest:
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Fotos from: TMX, Reforma, Meny Times, Michoacan 3.0
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