Missing Politician in Mexico Linked to Cartel Kidnapping

A politician from southern Mexico, currently on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s fugitive list, has gone missing and is suspected to be a victim of kidnapping by a drug cartel.

The disappearance of Rogelio Portillo Jaramillo, who serves as the director of Mexico’s federal welfare office in Huetamo, Michoacan, took place on March 28. In the days following his vanishing, the case garnered little media attention in Mexico. However, associates of Portillo have suggested that he was taken by unidentified armed men. Recently, authorities confirmed that his charred vehicle was discovered, and they have labeled him as a missing person publicly.

In 2021, Portillo ran for mayor of Huetamo under the MORENA party but didn’t succeed. That election even caught national interest, particularly because the U.S. DEA had classified him as a wanted fugitive just two months prior to the election due to federal drug conspiracy allegations. After the electoral loss, he resumed work as the welfare office director.

Law enforcement sources mentioned that Portillo has been identified as a significant connection between the Michoacan state government and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which the U.S. government has designated as a terrorist organization. Additionally, it was revealed that Portillo is related to Francisco Jaramillo, a prominent figure in the CJNG.

The CJNG is actively engaged in ongoing conflicts with smaller factions, including those linked to the Familia Michoacana cartel. This continuous struggle has resulted in escalating violence across western Mexico, affecting Michoacán, Guerrero, and neighboring states.