EXCLUSIVE: Arrest of Gulf Cartel Boss Triggers Chaos near Texas Border

Breitbart Texas traveled to the Mexican border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros to recruit citizen journalists willing to risk their lives and expose the cartels silencing their communities. The writers would face certain death at the hands of the Gulf Cartel if a pseudonym were not used. Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles are published in both English and in their original Spanish. This article was written by “JA Espinoza” from Matamoros.

MATAMOROS, Tamaulipas — A massive show of force by Mexican authorities took place Friday as a result of the capture of Angel Eduardo Prado Rodriguez also known as Orejon or Ciclon 7–the leader of the Gulf Cartel in this border city.

During the early morning hours the Mexican military carried out a land operation with air support leading to the capture of one of the most wanted men in the structure of organized crime operating in this city. The tension following the operation even prompted the U.S. Consulate in this border city to issue out a warning about the security conditions. 

Prado Rodriguez was the only man listed by Mexican authorities as one of their priority targets who had not been captured since the government unveiled their new security strategy for the state in May 2014.

On Friday, the massive military deployment and the constant flyovers by helicopters froze the downtown area in this border city as authorities took Prado Rodriguez to the headquarters of Mexico’s Attorney Generals Office; the building is only a few blocks from the Texas border.

The massive deployment included the blocking off of various streets in the perimetry of the building to avoid any rescue attempts. Three military helicopters spent ours flying over the downtown area providing air cover to the ground troops but also causing panic among residents.

The capture of Ciclon 7 did not result in fierce firefights along the border like in other cases. Authorities kept heightened security measures all around the city and as of press time gun battles had not taken place in this city.

The apprehension of the capo took place shortly after 6 a.m. in the downtown area according to a prepared statement sent out by the Tamaulipas government. The  address of location where the arrest took place was not disclosed by authorities.

The capture was praised as a success by Mexican officials who had been hunting Prado Rodriguez for some time as one of their prime targets. The man known as Ciclon 7 is known as one of the youngest leaders in the command structure of the criminal organization; despite his young age, he earned a name for being able to rule over his faction of the cartel.

Unofficial information revealed that the arrest of Prado Rodriguez could be tied to members of his own  criminal organization, however the identifying information of those who may have been implicated was not revealed.

The Matamoros Mayor Leticia Salazar acknowledged the triumph of the Mexican authorities in their capture of Ciclon 7 who is one of the criminal that has hurt the city the most. Salazar asked the security agencies in Mexico to redouble their efforts to restore peace to the region. She also warned citizens to remain vigilant during the next few hours as to avoid dangerous situations that could place their families at risk.

“The Matamoros government will remain up to date and working in coordination with federal forces for the well being of Matamoros and its people,” Salazar said.