Image: from SPR Informa X @SPRInforma
TAMAULIPAS, Mexico — Mexican federal forces have dealt a significant blow to the Gulf Cartel’s “Los Ciclones” faction following the capture of Antonio Guadalupe “N,” a high-ranking operative known as “El Lexus.” The targeted operation, conducted along the volatile U.S.-Mexico border, resulted in the arrest of eight additional cartel members and the seizure of a massive cache of military-grade weaponry.
Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch confirmed the successful mission via social media, detailing a joint effort involving Army special forces, the National Guard, and the Mexican Air Force. The raid, which took place on February 26, targeted a cell known as “Operativa Ranger.”
Elementos de las Fuerzas Armadas detuvieron a Antonio Guadalupe “N”, alias “Lexus”, identificado como líder del grupo Operativa Ranger, perteneciente a la célula “Los Ciclones” del Cártel del Golfo.
La captura se realizó tras un intenso operativo en… pic.twitter.com/mzRtsANBVB
— SPR Informa (@SPRInforma) February 26, 2026
Arrest and Seizures
The operation yielded a sophisticated arsenal, underscoring the group’s paramilitary capabilities. Authorities reported the recovery of:
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.50-caliber Barrett rifles capable of piercing light armor.
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Rocket launchers and grenades.
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Specialized tactical equipment and reinforced vehicles.
Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla Trejo identified “El Lexus” as a primary security lieutenant for José Alfredo “N,” alias “El Contador,” the overarching leader of the Los Ciclones faction. Beyond providing security for the cartel’s top brass, Antonio Guadalupe “N” is accused of managing large-scale drug production and orchestrating trafficking routes into the United States.
The “Northern Border Operation” Success
The arrest is the latest milestone in Mexico’s “Northern Border Operation,” a strategic security initiative launched in February 2025. The program was established following negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump to stave off threatened trade tariffs by demonstrating aggressive enforcement against narcotics trafficking.
By the Numbers: Northern Border Operation (Feb 2025 – Jan 2026)
Total Arrests: 10,929 individuals
Narcotics Seized: 120.3 tons
Fentanyl Intercepted: 603 kilograms
A Shifting Criminal Landscape
The crackdown on the Gulf Cartel comes at a time of immense upheaval within Mexico’s criminal underworld. Just days prior, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) suffered a historic loss with the death of its notorious leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (“El Mencho”), during a security operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco.
With the leaders of both the CJNG and key factions of the Gulf Cartel now neutralized or incarcerated, security analysts warn of potential “aftershocks” as mid-level commanders vie for control. “El Lexus” currently faces a litany of charges in both Mexico and the U.S., including kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking.