“Canasto” , CJNG Financial Officer Arrested in Queretaro

Jesús Contreras Arceo, “Canasto”

By: Ignacio Alzaga  July 15, 2018

The PGR captured, without firing a single shot, Jesús Contreras Arceo, ‘Canasto’, allegedly in charge of operating the finances of the criminal organization. He is also identified as one of the leaders of the Jalisco Cartel Nueva Generación.

The detainee was wanted by the United States government, which intends to prosecute him for money laundering and drug trafficking , particularly for the distribution of large shipments of methamphetamine. He faces charges for using the illicit proceeds of drug trafficking for the financing and operation of the CJNG.

Without firing a single shot, staff of the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) made the order of provisional detention for extradition purposes in the state of Querétaro.


Contreras Arceo “Canasto” is accused in the Virginia Court of producing, introducing and distributing large quantities of methamphetamine to the United States . According to the investigations, he imported ephedrine and other chemical precursors of Asia.

Derived from cabinet and field work, elements of the AIC, attached to the General Directorate of International Police Affairs and Interpol, complied, without the use of violence or harm to third parties, accomplished the capture order.  They did so based on the order issued by a District judge specialized in the Accusatory Criminal System in Mexico City.

Contreras Arceo is required by the Federal Court of the Eastern District of Virginia , to be prosecuted for his probable responsibility in crimes against health, operations with resources of illicit origin and criminal association.