Martín Arzola Ortega

Martín Arzola Ortega (Spanish pronunciation: [maɾˈtin aɾˈsola oɾˈteɣa]; 1976/1977 – 31 July 2019), commonly referred to by his alias "El 53", was a Mexican convicted drug lord. He was a high-ranking leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a criminal group based in Jalisco.

Martín Arzola Ortega
Born1976/1977
Died31 July 2019 (age 42)
Cause of deathHomicide by firearm
NationalityMexican
Other names
  • El 53
  • Ramón Franco Zavala
OccupationDrug lord
EmployerJalisco New Generation Cartel
Criminal charge(s)
  • Drug trafficking
  • Organized crime involvement
  • Possession of military-exclusive firearms
Criminal status24-year conviction (2015); overturned to 4-years and released (2018)

He worked under Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (alias "El Mencho"), the alleged top leader of the CJNG. Arzola Ortega began his criminal career in 1998 as a cargo truck thief and eventually joined the Milenio Cartel, the predecessor group of the CJNG.

After several of his bosses were arrested and/or killed, he founded the CJNG with other defectors in the 2010s.

Arzonla Ortega died on 31 July 2019 in Zapopan, Jalisco after being shot dead at a mall, aged 42.[1]

References