Sinaloa Cartel Leader “El 18” Arrested for Homicide – Shocking Details Unveiled

Oscar Melchor "N", also known as "El 18", a notorious criminal leader of a Sinaloa Cartel faction operating in Quintana Roo, has been arrested on charges of homicide. The arrest was a joint operation between the State Prosecutor's Office of Quintana Roo and Coahuila. Melchor was apprehended in Saltillo, Coahuila, and was flown to Cancún under heavy security. He was later admitted to the city's Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) prison.

The official statement, Statement 331/2024-FDN dated October 12, 2024, details that Melchor was transferred to Benito Juárez to face charges of capital murder. The arrest was part of an extensive security operation involving the Navy Secretariat, the Citizen Security Secretariat, and the Investigation Police.

Melchor was wanted for his alleged involvement in a murder that took place on April 19, 2021. The investigation, which included both field and technological inquiries, led to his location in Saltillo, where the arrest warrant was executed.

Following his arrest, Melchor was flown to Benito Juárez by the Investigation Police, arriving at Cancún International Airport in the early hours of the morning. He was then transported under heavy security to the Prosecutor's Office, where his health status was certified and the necessary documentation was prepared for his admission to the Cereso prison.

The charges against Melchor stem from the night of April 19, 2021, when he is alleged to have participated in the illegal detention and murder of a person. The victim was taken to Alfredo V. Bonfil farm, dismembered, and left in a van, which was subsequently set on fire.

Melchor, identified as the leader of a Sinaloa Cartel faction in the northern area of Quintana Roo, has been arrested multiple times. His most recent arrest in 2021 was in connection with several murders, including that of Ignacio Sánchez Cordero, a mayoral candidate in Puerto Morelos.

It is unclear when Melchor was released following his previous arrest. He is now back in custody in the state of Coahuila and has been admitted to the Cereso prison in Cancún. His legal status will be determined in due course.