Following a high-level visit to Mexico City on January 22, 2026, by FBI Director Kash Patel, the U.S. government has significantly increased its FBI pressure on Mexico to capture “El Ruso.” During meetings with Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, Patel emphasized that the current leadership of “Los Mayos,” led by “El Mayito Flaco,” represents a direct threat to U.S. national security.
The Driver of Regional Violence
According to leaked intelligence reports, Juan José Ponce Félix, alias “El Ruso,” is considered the main cause of violence in the Mexican Pacific and the northern part of the country. U.S. agencies view his capture as essential to disrupting the financial and logistical network that fuels the fentanyl epidemic. The visit of the FBI Director to CDMX underscores a shift in bilateral relations, demanding “tangible trophies” and a crackdown on information leaks within Mexican law enforcement.
Sources: The Info Stream, lopezdoriga.com, and La Silla Rota.