A stunning sweep with an even stranger twist
Chiapas authorities detained 59 municipal officers in Cintalapa and four civilians, and they seized a live jaguar during coordinated raids on August 12. The operation targeted alleged links between local police and the Chiapas-Guatemala cartel and followed six court-approved searches.
The Attorney General’s Office said agents executed warrants at several addresses in Cintalapa and one in neighboring Jiquipilas, including the Municipal Headquarters. Officials framed the action as part of a broader anti-corruption push within local forces.
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Cintalapa jaguar confiscated
The jaguar appeared on the official inventory of seized items, alongside firearms and vehicles. Local outlets later reported the big cat was transferred for custody to the ZooMAT in Tuxtla Gutiérrez while authorities determine next steps.
The capture of a protected species inside a criminal probe is rare, and it underscores how wildlife trafficking often intersects with organized crime. State officials did not immediately explain how the animal ended up at one of the searched properties.
What authorities say they found
Prosecutors listed a 9mm handgun with ammunition, two AK-47 rifles with magazines and 7.62 mm rounds, seven vehicles, a motorcycle, and an ATV. They also listed “an exemplar felino (jaguar),” now under government control.
The multi-agency team included the state Agency of Investigation and Intelligence, the Fuerza de Reacción Inmediata Pakal, Mexico’s National Guard, and the Defense Ministry. Detainees were turned over to the Public Ministry to define their legal status.
Who was arrested and on what charges
Among those detained is Ulber “N.”, the municipal police director, accused of misuse of decorations, uniforms and insignia, and criminal conspiracy. Prosecutors also cited association with committing crimes across the Cintalapa force.
Civilians include Fabiana “N.” — identified as Venezuelan — and Andrés “N.”, held on suspicion of possession for sale of methamphetamine and marijuana. Daniel “N.” and Maximiliano “N.” were arrested on drug-dealing allegations involving the same narcotics.
A raid aimed higher
Unofficially, local media reported the operation’s original target was Juan Manuel Valdovinos, “El Señor de los Caballos,” described as a regional criminal figure. Authorities have not confirmed any arrest tied to that name.
Officials say the case now moves to prosecutors and courts. For Cintalapa, the allegations cut to the core of public trust in policing. For conservationists, the jaguar’s presence raises urgent questions about illegal captivity and trafficking routes in a state that still holds critical habitat for the species.
