2018 in organized crime

In 2018, a number of events took place in organized crime.

Events

February

• February 8 – Mexican authorities arrest American-born Jose Maria Guizar Valencia, the alleged leader of the Zetas drug cartel, as he was entering a hotel in Mexico City's upscale neighborhood of Roma. ^[1]

March

• March 3 – Murder of Ján Kuciak: On the day of the funeral of slain journalist Ján Kuciak, for lack of evidence, police release seven Italian nationals who are accused of links with the 'Ndrangheta mafia in a posthumously published investigative report by Kuciak. ^[2]

April

• April 10 – An Italian judge says a mafia clan has been plotting the murder of Spia.it journalist Paolo Borrometi. Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni voices his support to the journalist. ^[3]

May

• May 27 – Mexican authorities arrest Rosalinda Garcia, the wife of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, one of the country's most wanted drug lords. ^[4]

August

• August 16 – The Mexican government announces that they are offering up to MXN$30 million (equivalent to US$1.56 million) for anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (alias "El Mencho"), the suspected leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and one of Mexico's most-wanted. ^[5]

September

• September 6 – Mexican officials report the discovery of the remains of at least 166 people in a mass grave in Veracruz. ^[6]

December

• December 4 – The alleged boss of the Cosa Nostra mafia clan is arrested along with 45 suspected accomplices in the province of Palermo, Italy. They are accused of aggravated extortion. ^[7]

Arts and literature

• The Mule
• The Outsider
• Gotti
• King of Thieves

Deaths

• August 15 – Rita Borsellino, 73, Italian anti-Mafia activist and politician, MEP (2009–2014). ^[8]
• October 23 – Nicola Lapenta, 92, Italian politician, MP (1972–1987), President of the Antimafia Commission (1983). ^[9]
• November 18 – Héctor Beltrán Leyva, 56, Mexican drug cartel leader (Beltrán-Leyva Cartel). ^[10]

See also

• Timeline of the Mexican Drug War
• List of years in organized crime

References

1. "Mexico: Zetas drugs cartel leader caught". BBC . 9 February 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025. The alleged kingpin was arrested in Mexico City's Roma neighbourhood, which is known for its hip bars and restaurants. He was captured "without the use of force", said the head of the National Security Commission, Renato Sales, in a press conference on Friday, when the news was confirmed. He is now likely to face extradition to the US, on drugs smuggling and money-laundering charges.
2. "Slovakia pays final farewell to slain journalist Jan Kuciak". Associated Press. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025. Kuciak was reporting about the influence of the Italian mafia in Slovakia and its possible ties to people close to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Two of Fico's associates have already resigned this week due to the reports. ~. Earlier Saturday, Police in Slovakia released seven Italians who were detained as suspects in the slayings. The seven men were taken into custody Thursday when police raided houses allegedly linked to members of the Italian 'ndrangheta crime syndicate. Police confirmed their release but gave no details.
3. "Mafia clan planned to kill journalist (5) - General News - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
4. "Mexico arrests wife of drug lord blamed for US heroin epidemic". 27 May 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
5. ""El Mencho", el capo por el que México ofrece 1.5 mdd de recompensa". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 September 2025.
6. "Mexico violence: Remains of 166 found in Veracruz mass grave". 6 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
7. "New mafia boss Settimo Mineo arrested in raid". euronews. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
8. "È morta Rita Borsellino, la sorella del giudice antimafia Paolo". rainews (in Italian). 15 August 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
9. "Dc: morto l'ex senatore Nicola Lapenta - Notizie - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 24 October 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
10. "Muere Héctor Beltrán Leyva, el capo mexicano que inició al Chapo Guzmán en el tráfico de cocaína". BBC News Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 September 2025.