Roadblocks made of burning vehicles, blocked roads, and scenes of panic were reported on Thursday (Oct. 29) in Matamoros, in northeastern Mexico, on the border with the United States, following the arrest of Axel Cárdenas, who is reportedly the second-in-command of one of the organizations that make up the notorious Gulf Cartel.
The Mexican Army’s operation caused unrest in the city, prompting local authorities to suspend school operations and urge residents to seek safe shelter.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The arrest took place in Matamoros, in the state of Tamaulipas, across the border from Texas, according to an announcement by the Mexican Ministry of Defense.
— Mundo Tamaulipas (@MundoTamaulipas) October 29, 2026
#ATENCION | #SEDENA INFORMA SOBRE LA DETENCION DE AXEL "N" OCURRIDA ESTE JUEVES EN #MATAMOROS. pic.twitter.com/902jQSxQZI
Immediately afterward, burning roadblocks appeared in various parts of the city—a tactic frequently used by the country’s criminal organizations in response to the arrests of their leaders.
Cartel members steal vehicles, set them on fire, and abandon them on major thoroughfares in an attempt to hinder the movements of security forces.
— Irving (@IrvingPineda) October 29, 2026
Esto ocurre tras la captura de Axel Cárdenas, hijo de José Alfredo Cárdenas "El Contador", líder de facción del Cártel del Golfo. pic.twitter.com/OEj2O7cPge
Panicked parents rushed to schools
. Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Matamoros reported blocked roads and parents rushing in a panic to schools to pick up their children.
The situation disrupted daily life in the city, prompting local authorities to suspend classes for safety reasons.
The mayor of Matamoros, Alberto Granados, urged residents to remain in safe areas and avoid traveling to areas where roadblocks had been set up.
Who is Axel Cárdenas and what charges does he face
? According to the Mexican Ministry of Defense, Axel Cárdenas is considered the second-in-command of a faction of the Gulf Cartel, one of the criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking from Mexico to the U.S.
Authorities link him to murders, kidnappings, and drug trafficking across the border between the two countries.
¡Lo intentaron rescatar pero no lo lograron!
— Corresponsales MX (@CorresponsalsMX) October 30, 2026
detención de Axel Alfredo “N”, alias “Axel”, segundo al mando de la célula delictiva “Ciclones” del Cártel del Golfo #CDG.
a plena luz del día hubó cógido rojo,… pic.twitter.com/M7tBwiI9qK
In addition, he is accused of being responsible for an attack on federal agents last May, during which one person was killed.
This is not the first time he has been arrested by Mexican authorities. In 2023, he was arrested by the military but was subsequently released pending trial, according to the prosecutor’s office.
The Gulf Cartel and Its Designation as a Terrorist Organization
The Gulf Cartel is one of the Latin American criminal organizations that have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States.
Its activities are linked to drug trafficking, violence, and competition for control of areas near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Matamoros, due to its geographical location across from Texas, is a key hub for the movement of people and goods between the two countries.
Cárdenas’s arrest and the ensuing unrest highlight the difficulties faced by Mexican authorities during operations against the cartels, as the arrest of high-ranking members is often met with violent reactions.
