By Ricardo Lezama 
In a case denoting the global nature of drug trafficking, Omar García Harfuch, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, announced on X the arrest of two foreign nationals, Aaron “N” and Hong Thoa “N,” in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. The need for precursor chemicals obtained abroad often goes ignored in press reports. The resulting ease in the fentanyl packages for both shipping and value added processes makes the business far too difficult to resist for global criminals.
En seguimiento a trabajos de investigación e inteligencia, en Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, fueron detenidos Aaron "N" y Hong Thoa "N" por personal del Gabinete de Seguridad @SEDENAmx , @SEMAR_mx , @FGRMexico, @GN_MEXICO_ , @SSPCMexico; ambos extranjeroscuentan con una orden de… pic.twitter.com/tE2mZ7KidY
— Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) February 18, 2025
Aaron (left), 51, is a middle aged individual with his female partner to the right, Thoa. Both American citizens are set to be extradited upon processing of their crimes per Mexican law. It is worth noting that the individuals most usually charged for Fentanyl trafficking in the United States are usually US citizens.
According to García Harfuch, both individuals are subjects of extradition orders and are linked to fentanyl distribution and illegal weapons possession. Harfuch is Mexico’s top security chief who just a few years ago was the target of an assassination attempt from the Cartel Jalisco New Generation group in Mexico City.
The arrests resulted from ongoing intelligence and investigative operations in the area. The operation involved personnel from the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena), Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), Attorney General’s Office (FGR), National Guard (GN), and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC).