Blow to 'El Mayo': American arrested in Tijuana, linked to 'Los Rusos'

Scott Harvey Daniel Lee Thompson , an American man allegedly linked to the 'Los Rusos' faction , was arrested on Tuesday, February 25, by elements of the Ministry of National Defense (Defensa), Ministry of the Navy (Semar), Attorney General's Office of the Republic (FGR), National Guard (GN), Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), along with the National Customs Agency of Mexico (ANAM).

The 41-year-old foreigner attempted to bring an arsenal and ammunition into the country inside a vehicle in Tijuana, Baja California , authorities said in a joint statement.

The events occurred as part of the strengthening of security and surveillance on the " El Chaparral " International Bridge, which connects San Diego with Tijuana, in the San Ysidro area, after conducting random inspections.

According to the report, authorities had contact with the driver of a vehicle with tinted windows, which impeded visibility inside the vehicle, for which reason they asked him to stop his vehicle to inspect it.

During the inspection, security officers found inside the vehicle an arsenal with three long weapons , two short weapons, 19 magazines, more than 2 thousand useful cartridges of different calibers , as well as three telescopic sights for weapons and a telescope, so the driver was immediately arrested.

"The detainee, a US citizen, was informed of his constitutional rights and was placed at the disposal of the corresponding public prosecutor, along with the seized items, who will determine his legal situation and continue with the relevant investigations," the SSPC said in the statement.

In addition, authorities said that "after intelligence work," they discovered that the detained subject and the seized items are linked to the criminal cell of 'Los Rusos' , identified as one of the armed wings of Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada , the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel who is facing trial in the United States.