Who is 'El Jardinero'? Mexico's Jalisco drug cartel commander arrested

ALBAWABA - Mexican authorities announced the arrest of cartel leader Audias Flores Silva, known as "El Jardinero" or "The Gardener", during an operation by special forces on Monday. 

According to sources, violent protests and unrest erupted across the North American country following the arrest of El Jardinero. Police received reports about burnings of vehicles and businesses in Nayarit and Jalisco, known as strongholds of the CJNG. However, no injuries have been reported so far.

Mexican Navy detailed Monday that a special forces operation arrested Jalisco New Generation Cartel commander "without a single shot being fired".

Who is 'El Jardinero'?

Audias Flores Silva had been identified months ago by Mexican intelligence as a possible successor to Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes – more commonly known as "El Mencho" – the leader of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), who was killed by Mexican troops in February.

The arrest of "El Jardinero" or "The Gardener", followed by a Mexican warrant and U.S. charges, and wanted for extradition, according to Security Minister Omar García Harfuch. 

He was also wanted by the United States, which had offered a $5 million bounty for his capture, Harfuch noted.

El Jardinero, a 31-year-old man who is originally from Huetamo in Michoacán. He is one of the drug cartel group CJNG's top commanders after the death of "El Mencho". 

Before becoming the leader of CJNG, he was El Mencho's head of security. He had control of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas, Michoacán, and Guerrero before his arrest.

Jardinero was managing methamphetamine laboratories, aircraft, and coordinating clandestine airstrips used for drug trafficking along Mexico's Pacific coast. 

Earlier, El Jardinero was arrested in 2016 for his alleged involvement in a 2015 ambush against police in Soyatlán, Jalisco, but he was released later on.