Three UJ40 Members Indicted for Aggravated Criminal Association
Mexico City, May 23 – The Attorney General’s Office of Mexico City (FGJCDMX) has secured the indictment of three alleged members of the UJ40, a cell linked to “La Unión Tepito,” on charges of aggravated criminal association. A judge ratified preventive detention for the men, identified as Irving “N,” alias “El Machete,” Johan “N,” and Carlos “N,” and set a five-month period for the closing of the complementary investigation.
Authorities reported that the three defendants also face separate criminal proceedings for crimes against health and bribery. The UJ40 cell has been investigated for high-impact crimes such as drug dealing, extortion, and kidnapping. The group is allegedly composed primarily of minors and is disputing control of the Morelos neighborhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough against “La Anti Unión Tepito.” Johan “N” is unofficially identified as the alleged founder of the UJ40.
Arrests and Initial Proceedings
On April 26, 2026, elements of the Secretariat of Citizen Security arrested Irving “N” and Johan “N” in possession of drugs and a firearm for the exclusive use of the Army. One of them allegedly threatened to shoot a motorist. Due to the federal firearm offense, the case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office.
Following their arrest, both were indicted for crimes against health and bribery. According to reports from the Mexico City prosecutor’s office, the Public Ministry agent continued the investigation into the cell in parallel, using analysis of video surveillance cameras, expert opinions, and digital evidence that corroborated the probable participation of the three men in the criminal structure.
With this material, the Mexico City Prosecutor’s Office obtained arrest warrants for criminal association. The warrants were executed on May 5 at the conclusion of the hearing related to the processes that Irving “N” and Johan “N” were already facing.
Raid in Venustiano Carranza Leads to Carlos “N”‘s Arrest
On the same May 5, agents of the Investigative Police, in coordination with the SSC, the National Guard, and the Secretariat of the Navy, carried out a raid on a property in the Venustiano Carranza borough. There, Carlos “N” was arrested, and doses of narcotics, cell phones, and various identifications were seized.
Carlos “N” was also indicted for crimes against health and bribery stemming from the raid. Authorities confirmed that the arrest warrant for criminal association was executed that same day, after the completion of the proceedings at the property.
Formal Indictment and Investigation Timeline
On May 12, 2026, the judicial authority formally indicted “El Machete,” Johan “N,” and Carlos “N” for the crime of aggravated criminal association. The judge ratified the precautionary measure of preventive detention and set a period of five months for the closing of the complementary investigation.
The UJ40 operates in the Morelos and Simón Bolívar neighborhoods of the Cuauhtémoc borough and is considered one of the active cells of La Unión Tepito, a criminal group founded in 2009 that is involved in drug dealing, extortion, kidnapping, and homicide in at least 12 boroughs of Mexico City.
The name UJ40 has three components: the “U” corresponds to La Unión Tepito; the “J” to the alleged founder of the cell, Johan “N” – one of the three defendants in this case – who allegedly created it when he was 17 years old; and the “40” to the number of the housing unit in the Morelos neighborhood where some of its members live, according to information from journalist Carlos Jiménez.
Source: https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/05/23/vinculan-a-proceso-a-tres-integrantes-de-los-uj40-celula-de-la-union-tepito-en-cdmx/
