WASHINGTON – Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, shared on Tuesday night that the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) offered vital intelligence to law enforcement in the U.S. and Mexico, which led to the capture of “El Pato,” the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel Plaza.
“We will not let cartel organizations operate freely, endangering Americans either in the U.S. or across the border into Mexico. Our NCTC teams are vigilant for moments of attack,” Gabbard stated in a message exclusive to Breitbart News prior to its release. “For over 20 years, NCTC has guided the intelligence community, ensuring that information is synchronized globally to create actionable intelligence for tracking those who threaten American safety. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, we’re increasing resources to tackle cartel and gang leadership while collaborating with our Mexican partners to disrupt their networks, enhance community safety, and safeguard American lives.”
On Tuesday, Gabbard’s Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) revealed that Leonardo Daniel Martínez Vera, known as “El Pato,” was arrested in Juarez, Mexico, on October 15, 2025. This operation resulted from the support of U.S. intelligence personnel at NCTC. The statement indicated that El Pato was “suspected of engaging in various illegal activities including drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and murder.”
The ODNI report noted that NCTC supplied “timely and accurate location information to Mexican authorities,” aiding law enforcement officials as they “raided two properties of interest in the hunt for El Pato.”
“He was apprehended while trying to escape the area with three cartel money launderers,” the statement explained.
A photograph of El Pato in custody shows him handcuffed and flanked by several law enforcement officers beside what seems to be a military or law enforcement vehicle. This image, shared with Breitbart News by Gabbard’s office, was part of an earlier report detailing El Pato’s arrest.
Additional details from this exclusive article suggest that U.S. counterterrorism officials played a significant role in the operation, hinting at potential broader actions in the future. El Pato’s capture follows President Donald Trump’s earlier designation of Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), which enabled Gabbard to channel NCTC resources towards these matters and assist law enforcement on both sides of the border combating FTO-designated groups like the Sinaloa Cartel. The notes from the ODNI release pointed out that this focused effort regarding El Pato was a result of a collaborative nine-month approach across multiple agencies.
“The arrest of El Pato was a culmination of nine months of cooperation involving NCTC, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Northern Joint Task Force, and the State Department’s Office of Diplomatic Security. Furthermore, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Aircraft Operations Division and Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Maritime Operations Unit contributed intelligence support,” the release mentioned. “This operation was conducted by a specialized unit from the Mexican National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) group Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales.”
