The federal government confirmed Saturday morning that they arrested Saúl Alejandro “N”, alias “El Chopa,” leader of the Nueva Generación Cartel, who was implicated in the murder of former Jalisco Governor Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz.

A document released by the Secretary of National Defense and the National Guard says, “On April 22, 2022, they arrested Saúl Alejandro “N” (a) “El Chopa,” lieutenant of a cartel that generates violence with national and international influence with a stronghold in the state of Jalisco, and another person who accompanied him.”

The arrest occurred Friday during a shootout in the Marina Vallarta area of Puerto Vallarta. Army, Air Force, and National Guard troops participated in the operation.

The document also said that “El Chopa” suffered gunshot wounds, and was taken to a hospital in that municipality, where he died Friday.

Also arrested was another man, another member of organized crime. No details about his identity were released. He was flown by helicopter to the Attorney General of the Republic in Guadalajara.

The document explained that, in an area of ​​high influence of the New Generation Cartel in Puerto Vallarta, “National Guard personnel suffered an attack with firearms coming from a private vehicle.”

“When repelling the aggression, the National Guard personnel observed that an individual got out of the aggressor’s vehicle, who had a gunshot wound, which is why he was transferred to a health facility in Puerto Vallarta. He was  later identified as Saúl Alejandro “N,” alias “El Chopa”.

He was arrested, and later died in the IMSS clinic.

Saúl Alejandro “N”, “El Chopa”, coordinated the financial aspects of the cartel, as well as the supply of weapons and tactical equipment to the criminal cells in Jalisco, Michoacán, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí.

Recently, Ricardo Mejía, undersecretary of the Secretariat for Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) announced the arrest of José Manuel “S” alias “Manu Vaquita,” an owner of the now-defunct Distrito 5 Bar, where former Governor Sandoval as assassinated on December 18, 2020.

“Manu Vaquita” is charged with homicide in the Sandoval case, and cover-up for ordering the evidence to be cleaned up at the crime scene.

Mejía also said that, on the day of the Sandoval’s murder, “El Chopa” met with “Manu Vaquita” at a table next to Sandoval.