The Unión Tepito has suffered a significant blow with the news of the capture of one of its leaders, José “N” alias “El Perro,” by the Mexico City Attorney General’s Office (FGJ CDMX) on the morning of Saturday, December 24th.
The arrest was confirmed through a live broadcast on the YouTube channel of the FGJ CDMX, headed by Ernestina Godoy, by spokesperson Ulises Lara. José “N” has been identified as the leader of one of the criminal organizations responsible for violence in the central zone of Mexico City.
“Firstly, we inform the citizens that José Gabriel ‘N’, alias ‘El Perro,’ a leader of the Unión Tepito and trusted collaborator of Roberto ‘N’ alias ‘El Betito’ (who has been imprisoned since 2018), was arrested in flagrante delicto by detectives of the Investigative Police (PDI) in the vicinity of Anillo Periférico Colonia Cantil del Pedregal, Alcaldía Coyoacán,” declared Ulises Lara López.
During the arrest of José “N”, investigative agents secured a quantity of possible cocaine, approximately 77 doses of what could be marijuana, a short firearm, a loaded magazine and useful cartridges of caliber 9 millimeters, as well as a high-end vehicle and identifications with a photograph that did not correspond to the person arrested.
Ulises Lara, spokesperson for the FGJ CDMX, explained that both José “N” and the seized items had been placed at the disposal of the public prosecutor’s agent assigned to the Prosecutor’s Office for the Investigation of Relevant Matters of the General Coordination of Investigation of High Impact Crimes, to determine his legal situation.
Investigations conducted by the FGJ CDMX have indicated that José Gabriel “N”, alias “El Perro”, may have been involved in illegal activities, including the violent seizure of properties, the distribution and commercialization of narcotics, illegal deprivation of liberty, as well as the extortion of merchants working in the Tepito area and downtown Mexico City.
Additionally, Ulises Lara explained that José “N” would possibly be related to activities that contemplate paying members of the Unión Tepito for the illegal sale of vehicles obtained through extortion and charging people dedicated to robbing passers-by known as pickpockets for allowing them to operate in various areas.
It is worth noting that “El Perro” has a criminal record for the crime of outrages against authority and may also be connected to previous investigations initiated for kidnapping or kidnapping, homicide, and crimes against public officials, all as a defendant.
Despite the accusations, Ulises Lara emphasized that, according to due protocol and respect for human rights, the detainee is presumed innocent and will be treated as such in all stages of the procedure until his responsibility is declared using a sentence issued by the jurisdictional body following the National Code of Criminal Procedures.
The spokesperson for the FGJ CDMX assured that investigations into the alleged criminal activities of José “N” are ongoing and that, in strict compliance with the law and as relevant information is generated, they will inform the public.
About the Unión Tepito, Ulises Lara elaborated that the intelligence team of the FGJ CDMX was able to provide sufficient evidence for a judge to issue a sentence of 43 years and nine months against Roberto “N”, alias “El Betito,” who was captured in 2018 and had been identified as the leader of the criminal organization.