A Shocking Kidnapping in Villa Hidalgo
This weekend, Brenda Marisol Montañez Saucedo, the DIF president of Villa Hidalgo, Jalisco, was kidnapped in what authorities believe to be an operation linked to the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Her husband, Jaime Cruz Villalpando, the mayor of Villa Hidalgo, confirmed on February 9, 2025, that she has yet to be located.
According to reports, Montañez Saucedo was abducted outside her home in Jesús María, Aguascalientes, within the upscale residential complex Ruscello. Investigators suspect that the CJNG orchestrated the kidnapping as part of an ongoing territorial dispute with the Sinaloa Cartel in northern Jalisco.
Cartel Threats and the Police Chief’s Resignation
The abduction comes after weeks of escalating tension between criminal organizations and local government officials. Authorities believe the CJNG targeted the mayor’s family after demanding the removal of municipal police chief Adolfo Pérez Jerónimo.
Although Pérez Jerónimo resigned for “personal reasons,” the local government has not yet confirmed his official departure. This situation has raised concerns that the cartel’s threats against public officials are influencing local governance.
A Mayor Caught Between Two Cartels
The kidnapping is part of a larger pattern of cartel intimidation. Just days before Montañez Saucedo’s abduction, cartel-related narcomantas (threatening banners) were found in Aguascalientes, demanding the cancellation of a concert by singer Óscar Maydon. The banners were directed at Sebastián Cruz, the mayor’s son, who is an entertainment promoter.
Following the threats, Sebastián Cruz was reportedly kidnapped. His father, Mayor Jaime Cruz Villalpando, allegedly met with a CJNG commander known as “El Charro”, leader of the cartel’s elite Fuerzas Especiales Cha unit, to negotiate his son’s release.
Reports indicate that the mayor, along with two municipal employees, was taken to a cartel safe house in Tepatitlán before being freed. It is rumored that Sebastián Cruz has since fled to the United States.
Authorities suspect that the DIF president’s kidnapping was a direct retaliation for the mayor’s previous interactions with the cartel.
The CJNG and Sinaloa Cartel Battle for Northern Jalisco
The northern region of Jalisco, particularly the border with Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, has become a violent battleground between the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel.
Recent Cartel Attacks in the Region
- In Teocaltiche, cartel gunmen ambushed local police officers using weaponized drones and heavy firearms, resulting in the death of one officer.
- A joint military and National Guard operation later seized armored cartel vehicles, weapons, and arrested three suspects, including a minor.
- In Santa María de los Ángeles, rising violence led to the resignation of Mayor Minerva Robles Ortega, citing personal reasons. Security forces later launched a reinforced patrol operation in the town.
- The municipal government of Santa María de los Ángeles also saw a leadership shake-up, with secretary general Cristian Guerra Tovar being replaced by Casandra Martínez Hernández.
Political Instability and Cartel Influence
The recent kidnappings, resignations, and direct threats against public officials demonstrate how cartel violence is deeply affecting municipal governance in Jalisco. The CJNG’s intimidation tactics—from forcing police chiefs to resign to abducting high-profile individuals—highlight the organization’s strategic push for territorial control.
Will the Government Intervene?
With multiple local officials resigning under pressure, questions remain about how the Mexican government plans to address cartel influence in municipal governments. The federal administration has deployed National Guard troops, but the increasing violence suggests that criminal organizations are outpacing government intervention strategies.
A Region in Crisis
The kidnapping of DIF president Brenda Marisol Montañez Saucedo underscores the growing instability in northern Jalisco as the CJNG and Sinaloa Cartel escalate their territorial dispute.
As government officials, law enforcement, and even civilians become targets of cartel violence, the ability of local governments to function independently is increasingly under threat. Whether Mexico’s security forces can contain the escalating conflict remains uncertain, but for now, Villa Hidalgo and neighboring regions remain at the mercy of organized crime.
