‘R1’ Arrested, Alleged Mastermind of the Murder of Former Mayor Carlos Manzo

ByAnahí Del Ángel

This article by Anahí Del Ángel originally appeared in the July 30, 2026 edition of Contralínea, one of Mexico’s leading investigative magazines.

Federal security forces arrested Ramón Ángel Álvarez Ayala, alias R1, alleged mastermind of the murder of the former mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, Carlos Manzo, which took place on November 1, 2025 at the Plaza Morelos, during the Festival de las Velas.

The arrest was confirmed by the head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, in a post through his account on the social network X.

The official detailed that Álvarez Ayala leads Los Rs, one of the most violent cells linked to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), whose area of operation is the municipalities of Apatzingán, Uruapan, and Morelia in Michoacán, as well as a presence in Jalisco.

In addition, that group is allegedly connected to various high-impact crimes, including extortion, homicides, and drug trafficking, which directly affects producers, businesspeople, and families in the region.

García Harfuch reported that 31 people have now been detained for their probable participation in the murder of Carlos Manzo. He indicated that this action is part of the Michoacán Plan for Peace and Justice, ordered by President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The Secretary attributed the capture to the work of intelligence and investigation and the information provided by the National Intelligence Center. He added that the SSPC and Special Forces of the Mexican Army took part in the operation.