Law enforcement officials in Juarez have made a significant arrest this week, capturing one of the principal figures of the Sinaloa cartel's operations in the region. Humberto Rivera, who is also known by several aliases including "El Chato," "El Don," and "El Viejón," was apprehended in the San Lorenzo neighborhood, as reported by the Chihuahua Attorney General’s Office. The arrest took place on Thursday, near the intersection of Fray Junípero Serra Street and Valle de Juarez Avenue, as detailed by KTSM.

El Viejón, aged 51, has long been a target for the FBI due to his high-ranking status within the notorious Sinaloa Cartel. According to KVIA, officials who made the arrest also discovered cocaine in Rivera's possession at the time of his capture. His apprehension is seen as a significant blow to the cartel, which operates extensively across the Juárez valley.

The Sinaloa Cartel, which has deeply entrenched itself in the fabric of organized crime across Mexico and into the United States, has faced increased pressure from law enforcement on both sides of the border. The arrest of Rivera, a known close associate of the late Gabino Salas Valenciano, also known as El Ingeniero, who was killed by federal forces in 2015, represents another concerted effort to dismantle the powerful drug trafficking organization that has long evaded complete suppression.