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Current Affairs

Federal Operation Targets Los Metros Illicit Fuel Operations

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By Samantha Johnson / September 28, 2026

By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat

Over the weekend, Mexican federal forces conducted 19 raids across three states in one of the most significant blows to the illicit fuel operations of Los Metros so far this year.

According to the Sedena press release, the 19 raids were carried out by Mexican Army Special Forces, the National Guard, and the Attorney General’s Office across the states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and Chihuahua on 25 and 26 September. Authorities seized 13 properties, two aircraft, 290 vehicles and trailers, and approximately 500,000 liters of fuel. The operations also resulted in the arrest of Jesús Manuel “N,” alias “Bebo,” identified as a financial operator for Los Metros and a subordinate of faction leader César Morfín Morfín, alias “Primito.”

Full list of seized property:

  • 13 properties
  • 4 fixed tank-type tanks for hydrocarbon storage
  • 2 aircraft
  • 50 vehicles of various types
  • 107 tank-type trailers
  • 84 tractor-trailers
  • 49 garbage collection trucks
  • 11 dispensing pumps
  • 500,000 liters of fuel
  • 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine
  • 219 cartridges
  • 7 motorcycles
On Saturday, widespread reports of tire spikes were recorded across several Reynosa neighborhoods, although there were no reported shootouts. The previous Monday, federal forces arrested seven alleged Los Metros gunmen during a separate operation at a residence in Reynosa.
The operation represents the most significant federal strike against Los Metros this year. Like other preceding operations, it thematically followed the U.S. Treasury Department by focusing on Los Metros fuel theft and fraud networks rather than drug trafficking infrastructure. While the raids deal a blow to Los Metros’ finances, they do not seriously weaken the organization.

Retaliatory attacks against government forces, including the military, state police, and judiciary, are likely. In August 2025, Metros gunmen assassinated Tamaulipas FGR delegate Ernesto Cuitláhuac Vázquez Reyna by throwing a grenade under his Cadillac SUV on Boulevard Hidalgo and then shooting him after he fled the burning vehicle. The killing was likely ordered in response to a major FGR operation in June 2025 in Reynosa’s La Escondida neighborhood that seized stolen fuel, tractor-trailers, and storage tanks.

This weekend’s operations were far more significant than the June 2025 seizures by arresting a subordinate of Los Metros boss Cesar Morfin Morfin, in addition to the massive quantity of criminal infrastructure seized. 

Who are Los Metros?

Los Metros are the dominant criminal organization in Reynosa, controlling the corridor from Río Bravo in the east to Camargo in the west of the Tamaulipas border region. Los Metros are a Gulf Cartel splinter faction that became a CJNG local franchise in 2023, giving the CJNG a strategic foothold on the U.S. border. The CJNG-Los Metros alliance was facilitated by Los Metros boss Cesar Morfin Morfin “Primito”, who was reportedly a friend of former CJNG boss Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes
“El Mencho”, who was killed in a military operation in February 2026.

Los Metros derive revenue from drug trafficking, retail drug sales, fuel theft and fuel fraud, cargo hijacking, and business extortion. Control is maintained through corruption of Fuerza Estatal officers, territorial dominance of the rural areas encircling the city, and an extensive surveillance network combining human lookouts with illegally installed CCTV cameras.

A truce with rival Gulf Cartel faction Grupo Escorpiones has held since early 2025, ending a years long period of open armed confrontations. No inter-group violence has been recorded in Reynosa in 2026, though the underlying territorial competition remains unresolved.

Sources: Sedena, OFAC


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