A 15-year-old accused of working as a cartel hitman was killed alongside his uncle, a cartel leader wanted in the United States on drug trafficking charges, during a gun battle with Mexican security forces in Michoacan.
Alberto “Chuchito Nini” Sandoval, 15, and his uncle Luis “El R-5” Barragan, 39, died August 30 when Mexican military and National Guard troops, working alongside the Michoacan Attorney General’s Office and state police, raided a ranch in the town of Tocumbo, according to BizPacReview and capitalisminstitute.org.
Barragan led Cartel de Los Reyes and was wanted in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. Officials say Sandoval had been serving as his uncle’s bodyguard. It remains unknown whether the teenager fired a weapon during the confrontation.
Allegations of recruiting other minors
The Michoacan Attorney General’s office says Sandoval allegedly recruited other minors into the cartel through social media and managed a squad of hitmen despite his age. Authorities have not released further detail on how many minors were allegedly recruited or over what period.
A broader pattern in Michoacan
Cartel de Los Reyes has been active in Michoacan, a state where organized crime groups have long fought over territory and extortion rackets tied to the local avocado and lime trade. Mexican authorities have periodically announced raids targeting cartel leadership in the region, though the state continues to see recurring violence.
Mexican officials have not released additional information about the ranch raid, including how many people were present or whether any suspects were taken into custody.
Sources: BizPacReview · Capitalism Institute
