Mexico City, July 8 – Three women, members of a drug dealing cell operating in two boroughs of Mexico City, were apprehended by the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) following the simultaneous execution of two search warrants. The group was reportedly led from prison by two men known as “El Peto” and “El Tacho Loco”.
Family Network of ‘El Peto’ and ‘El Tacho Loco’ Dismantled
According to authorities, the detainees were identified as: Paola Berenice Soria Landeros, 32, partner of “El Peto” and responsible for organizing distributors and receiving profits; Lina Alejandra Pérez Roldán, 50, mother of “El Peto” and in charge of receiving drugs from suppliers for packaging and sale; and Karen Nicol Cordero Pérez, 30, sister of “El Tacho Loco” and a direct collaborator of the group.
Police actions were carried out as a result of intelligence work and field investigations, as well as follow-up on various citizen complaints. These complaints indicated a group of individuals allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of narcotics at two addresses in Mexico City.
Simultaneous Raids in Benito Juárez and Iztapalapa
The first operation was executed at a home on Eleuterio Street, San Simón neighborhood, Benito Juárez borough. There, officers secured 90 plastic baggies with apparent cocaine, 400 grams of alleged marijuana, and a cell phone. Soria Landeros was arrested at this location.
The second search took place at a home on Leiria Street, San Andrés Tetepilco neighborhood, Iztapalapa borough. At this property, officers found 180 baggies with probable powdered cocaine, a bag with a solid rock-like substance, five cell phones, and a gray tablet. Pérez Roldán and Cordero Pérez were arrested there.
The evidence obtained was presented by a public prosecutor to a Control Judge, who granted the search warrants to intervene in the aforementioned addresses. The SSC acted in coordination with agents from the Attorney General’s Office (FGJ) of Mexico City. The operation also had the support of the Secretariat of the Navy of Mexico (SEMAR) and the National Guard.
“The operational deployments were carried out without the use of violence and in strict adherence to the police action protocol and respect for human rights,” a statement read.
Detainees and Seized Items
The three women were informed of their constitutional rights at the time of their arrest. Along with all the seized items, they were placed at the disposal of the corresponding Public Prosecutor, who will define their legal status and continue the investigations.
Prior Criminal Record
A cross-reference of information in institutional databases revealed that Pérez Roldán, 50, has a previous entry into the Mexico City Penitentiary System. This record dates back to 2016 and corresponds to the crime of resistance to authority.
The two raided properties were sealed after the operations. Both properties remain under police custody while investigations continue. The investigation determined that the cell operated under the instructions of “El Peto” and “El Tacho Loco,” both incarcerated in a penitentiary center. From prison, the two men directed the activities of drug purchase, sale, preparation, and distribution in the Benito Juárez and Iztapalapa boroughs.
Authorities Reiterate Commitment to Public Safety
As a result of these events, the SSC and the FGJ reiterated their commitment to work jointly to identify and apprehend those who commit crimes against the security, tranquility, and patrimony of Mexico City residents.
Recommendations for the Public
Finally, they issued the following recommendations to the public:
- Report suspicious drug sales or distribution activities through official SSC or FGJ channels.
- Do not be intimidated by the presence of criminal groups in the immediate vicinity; citizen complaints were crucial in this case.
- Provide as much detail as possible: addresses, schedules, descriptions of individuals or vehicles involved.
- Avoid direct contact with alleged members of criminal cells to avoid compromising personal safety.
- Use anonymous complaint lines available 24 hours a day to report incidents without needing to identify oneself.
